Box Score FAIRBANKS – For the second time in as many games, the Alaska Nanook hockey team was defeated, 3-2, by Western Collegiate Hockey Association foe, Bowling Green. Tonight, Alaska trailed 3-0 early in the second, but its comeback effort fell just short in the one goal loss.
Alaska (5-5-0, 0-4-0) is now idle for two weeks, as its next game is not until it travels to Lake Superior State for a weekend series on Nov. 21 and 22.
The Nanooks started the game brightly, as they created a number of chances in the opening two minutes, but it was the Falcons (7-2-1, 5-1-0) who tallied first, completely against the run of play. Ben Murphy found just enough space on a counter attack and laced one past Alaska's
Davis Jones, to give BGSU the lead.
Several minutes of feisty hockey ensued, resulting in six penalties, and two 5-on-3 opportunities for the Nanooks. Unfortunately the Falcons fortified their defense, and it was them who again found the game's next goal as Matt Pohlkamp scored with just over two minutes to play in the opening frame.
Mark Cooper redirected a shot from the point past
John Keeney, who started the second period in relief of
Davis Jones, to extend Bowling Green's advantage. However, from that point on the Nanooks would close the hatch and turn up the offensive pressure.
Marcus Basara scored his fourth goal of the season, and second of the weekend, at the 11:51 mark, with a powerful wristed shot past BGSU's Tommy Burke. The goal was a direct result of a key faceoff win by
Tyler Morley, who, after winning the draw took a pass from
Nolan Kaiser and fed Basara who brought the Nanooks within a pair.
Then,
Austin Vieth tallied his fourth goal of the campaign to pull the Nanooks within a goal of tying the game, just 40 seconds later. As Alaska upped the pressure in the offensive zone, it was again T. Morley who was the provider, as he notched his team-leading sixth assist.
As the Carlson crowd amplified the atmosphere, hoping to witness another Nanook third-period comeback, Alaska pushed for that elusive tying goal, doubling Bowling Green in shots for the third period (17-8).
However, Bowling Green's Burke was able to make save after save to repel the Alaskan attack, earning his third win of the season.
For the game Burke stopped 36 of the 38 shots he faced. For the Nanooks, Jones dropped to 3-2-0 on the season, as he made seven saves on nine shots in the first period. Keeney, after allowing an early goal, settled down to perform exceptionally in making 20 saves.
Alaska, after traveling to Lake Superior State, returns home for a Thanksgiving weekend series against Northern Michigan.
