Box Score FAIRBANKS – The Nanooks slumped to a fourth straight defeat, and third in the conference, this time at the hands of the visiting Bowling Green Falcons, by a score of 3-2 in Friday's Western Collegiate Hockey Association home opener.
Alaska (5-4-0, 0-3-0) twice erased one goal decifcits, to knot the game up at two entering the third period, but unfortunately were not able to build any momentum and find the breakthrough goal before the Falcons scored a demoralizing goal, which proved to be the game-winner.
"It's disappointing obviously," said head coach
Dallas Ferguson. "We were at two-two in our own building, having strung a couple loses together on the road and that was our responce. I'm certainly disappointed."
Bowling Green (6-2-1, 4-1-0), scored at the 9:05 mark of the first period as Mark Cooper slotted one past Alaska's
Sean Cahill to open the scoring.
The Nanooks were not behind for long, however, as
Peter Krieger scored a power play goal just under four minutes later to tie the game at one. Krieger slammed home from close range after receiving a luscious, tape-to-tape, pass from
Brandon Morley.
With 1:08 left in the period, the Falcons would once again take the lead, this time from a quick transition in the neutral zone. Following an offside call, BGSU switched play from the defense to the forward line immediately, and Brandon Hawkins found a way past Cahill to give the Falcons a 2-1 advantage at the start of the second period.
Marcus Basara capped off a flurry of Nanook pressure with a goal four minutes into the second frame, after he scored off the rebound from a shot from
Colton Parayko. Despite outshooting the Falcons, 12-7 in the period, BGSU's Tommy Burke was able to thwart Alaska's attempts to take the lead.
"I thought, in the second period, we were able to play with a greater intensity," said Ferguson. "But, plain and simple, in the third period, we got outworked."
BGSU's Dajon Mingo handed Alaska with a lavish opportunity to take the lead heading into the third period, as he was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct following some after-the-whistle shoving at the end of the second. However, the Nanooks were not able to capitalize on their chances. Following the failed power play, Bowling Green amped up the offense. In the end, the Falcons outshot Alaska, 13-6 in the period.
The Falcons were rewarded for their efforts at the 12:56 mark, when Matt Pohlkamp tapped one past a sprawling Cahill to give Bowling Green the road victory. Alaska was unable to generate any decent chances to tie the game, as BGSU continued to keep play in the offensive zone.
Alaska faces off against the Falcons tomorrow night, at 7:07 p.m. with a chance to return to winning ways.
