The small but vocal contingent of Redskin fans present in the Carlson
Center Friday night would probably tell you Miami stole one on the road.
The rest of the 2,892 in attendance would likely say UAF gave away another
game they really needed to win.  In a season of "almosts" and "could've
beens", the visitors from Oxford, Ohio shot down the host Nanooks 3-2,
leaving many fans shaking their heads as they filed to the exits.
 
UAF dominated the game in all phases, controlling the play in both ends
and playing inspired defense against an opponent which was coming of a
huge sweep of Michigan State. In fact, the Nanooks created several scoring
chances early, as the Redskins appeared lethargic after the long flight to
Alaska.
 
Early in the first period, Miami goaltender Kevin Deschambeault came out
behind his net to play the puck along the boards.  His clearing pass went
straight onto the stick of Nanook captain Warren Carter, who had an
unobstructed shot at the empty net from within the right side face-off
circle.  His shot missed the net by four feet.  Deschambeault dodged
several bullets throughout the night, as he never seemed to be quite in
the right position, often coming out of his crease to play the puck but
failing to get back in time.  Again and again, UAF could not manage to
make the Redskins pay.
 
After a scoreless first period, Nanook forward and hometown hero Pat
Williams netted his 15th goal of the season at 13:59 of the second on a
nice low slapshot from the top of the circle to beat Deschambeault down
low.  He was assisted by Dallas Ferguson and Greg Milles, who connected on
some nifty perimeter passing to set up Williams.  UAF's defense, led by
reliable blueliners Marcel Aubin, Bob Schwark and Kirk Patton, held the
Redskins at bay for the remainder of the period, sending the Nanooks to
the second intermission with a 1-0 lead.
 
Miami did not panic, however, as Andrew Miller tied the score at 3:18 of
the third on a feed from Dan Boyle and Marc Tropper.  Miller skated in on
Nanook goalie Brian Fish and used a UAF defenseman to screen Fish in close
before releasing a low backhander.  Pat Williams again brought the crowd
to its feet at 8:57, as he wheeled in and beat Deschambeault through the
pads for the unassisted goal to give UAF a 2-1 lead.
 
Not long afterward, the wheels fell off the UAF wagon.  Fish, who had been
solid but not heavily tested, gave up an uncharacteristic wraparound goal
at 15:15.  Tropper skated free of his defender and loosed a rather lazy
shot as soon as he cleared the left post.  Fish looked unprepared for the
slow developing play, as Tropper's shot floated over his stick and through
the pads to tie the game.  Assists were awarded to Miller and Vitali
Andreev.
 
Just over two minutes later, Adam Copeland took Tropper's cue and skated
around the other side of the UAF net, wrapping the puck around and past
Fish at 17:53.  The Nanooks waited until too late to pull Fish (0:23 left)
and never mustered much of a rush before the final horn sounded.
 
Copeland's unassisted tally crushed the Nanooks and their fans, embittered
by another lost opportunity to win a key game.  UAF outshot Miami 34-25
and denied the Redskins on all four power play chances.  The Redskins, to
their credit, didn't give up on Deschambeault, who really should have
allowed 6 or 7 goals had UAF jumped on his mental lapses.  Again, what
should arguably be the toughest road trip in college hockey turned into a
satisfying win for the visiting team.
 
UAF needed this game.  With leading Redskin scorer Kevyn Adams out of the
game for the MSU incident, UAF squandered an excellent opportunity to
catch the Redskins napping. The Nanooks just can't seem to play together
for 60 minutes.  Against NCAA teams, UAF is 2-8 in games decided by a
single goal.  Change that figure to 8-2 and UAF changes from an 8-20-1
team to a 14-14-1 team, which is perhaps more indicative of their level of
individual talent.  Call it luck or fate, this season has indeed been
frustrating for everyone here in Fairbanks.
 
More after Saturday night's game...
 
Mark Sonnier
UAF '90, '96
 
Note:  One memorable thing off the ice during Fridays game.  The PA system
operator played "I Love You, You Love Me"  from the Barney album whenever
there was a scuffle between the Nanook and Redskin players.  The crowd was
in stitches!