ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Lake Superior State saw two leads vanish in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association series finale against Alaska Anchorage as the Lakers fell 5-2 on Saturday night. The Lakers (11-19-4, 8-12-4 WCHA) held one-goal advantages in both the first and second periods but surrendered three goals in the final 7:44 of the third period.
Freshman Nick Kossoff made the start in net for the Lakers after sophomore Gordon Defiel has started the last three games. Kossoff saved 23 saves and was responsible for four goals against. Across from Kossoff, Olivier Mantha started in net for the Seawolves (11-16-3, 8-14-2 WCHA) once again and made 21 saves in the winning effort.
Sophomore forward J.T. Henke (9-9--18) scored a goal and added an assist, while Matt Anholt scored two goals and Chase Van Allen added three assists to lead the Seawolves
Henke opened the scoring by collecting a rebound and netting the puck past Mantha 11:05 into the first period. The goal gave Henke his third consecutive game with a goal after registering game-winning goals in the previous two games for the Lakers.
Four minutes later and moments after penalty time had expired against LSSU freshman Matt McArdle, UAA knotted the score a 1-1. Austin Azurdia put the Seawolves on the scoreboard with assists going to Van Allen and Jeremiah Luedtke.
The teams went to the first intermission tied with one goal apiece and eight shots for both sides.
The Lakers reclaimed the lead with a goal by Gage Torrel (7-8--15) to go up 2-1. Diego Cuglietta (4-5--9) and Henke recorded the assists on the go-ahead goal.
LSSU enjoyed their second lead of the night for just over seven minutes before the Seawolves tied things back up. Jarrett Brown fired a wrist shot over Kossoff's glove to tie the game at 2-2. Blake Tatchell and Sean MacTavish recorded the assists.
With the score tied 2-2 late in the third period, this time it was the Seawolves scoring the late go-ahead goal with 7:44 remaining. Nils Rygaard scored his first career goal by deflecting a shot from the blue line by Van Allen.
Just over a minute later, Anholt scored his first goal of the night to give UAA a 4-2 advantage and quell any thoughts of a late comeback by the Lakers. Anholt also scored an empty net goal with 2:36 remaining to produce the final score of 5-2.
The Lakers remain in sole possession of seventh place in the WCHA standings but sit just two points ahead of the Seawolves and four points ahead of University of Alaska Fairbanks in ninth place. The Nanooks, who suffered a sweep to the Lakers in the only meeting in December, fell to Bowling Green 4-1 on Saturday.
LSSU and UAA finished with a pair of splits on the season series after earning the same result in a January meeting in Sault Ste. Marie. Since the Lakers joined the Seawolves in the new-look WCHA, each series has ended in a split.
The loss gives the Lakers a 3-1-0 record in the state of Alaska this season and a 3-2-0 record on the Olympic sheet.
Next weekend the Lakers return home to face Northern Michigan to conclude the Cappo Cup rivalry series which is knotted at one-game apiece. LSSU will also be honoring the senior class, playing their final home game at Taffy Abel Arena, with a special ceremony following Saturday's game. Tickets can be purchased online at http://lssutickets.universitytickets.com, or by calling the Norris Center Ticket Office at (906) 635-2602.
Following the series with NMU, the Lakers will travel to Ferris State to conclude the regular season March 4-5.