MANKATO, Minn. -- Freshman John Mullally scored his first collegiate goal on Saturday, but it would be the lone goal the Alaska Nanooks hockey team would collect on the afternoon as they fall to Minnesota State, 2-1 at the Verizon Wireless Center.
The Nanooks (2-4-0, 0-2-0 WCHA) got on the board first on Saturday and held the lead going into the first intermission of the first time since the Oct. 10 game against Arizona State. Minnesota State (4-4-0, 4-0-0 WCHA) found the equalizer in the second period before netting the game winner with less than eight minutes remaining in the third. The Mavericks keep pace atop the WCHA, as they remain in first place after the weekend sweep, while the Nanooks return to The Last Frontier in search of their first WCHA points of the 2015-16 season.
"We competed at a level that gave us a chance to be successful," said head coach Dallas Ferguson. "We have a young lineup and tonight we put forward a good effort. We had a solid start and talked about scoring first, which was important for our group tonight. MSU grabbed the momentum in the second period with three power plays. We bent but didn't break. I like how our team pushed back in the third and created some quality scoring chances but were unable to capitalize. MSU is a great team, and give credit to them this weekend."
Mullally got the Nanooks on the board first, as he scored a goal a little over the halfway point of the first period. It is the first collegiate point for the freshman from Timberlea, Nova Scotia, as his goal marked the second time this season that Alaska has scored first in a game.
It looked as if Minnesota State knotted up the contest just minutes later, but they after review, the officials waved off the goal, as the net knocked loose before the puck crossed the goal line. It would be the first of three disallowed goal for the Mavericks on the afternoon, as they also had two goals waved off in the third period.
The Mavericks eventually found the equalizer in the second period, as they capitalized on a power play with a Teddy Blueger goal at the 11:53 mark of the frame. Minnesota State appeared to take the 2-1 advantage just four minutes later, but the official called the play dead before MSU got the puck across the line, keeping the game tied at 1-1 entering the final intermission.
Minnesota State finally broke through with the game-tying goal with 7:15 seconds remaining in the third period, as Brent Knowles found the back of the net from the right circle. Just a minute later, MSU scored again, but for the third time in the game the officials deemed the goal no good, as Knowles was in the crease.
Alaska pulled its goalie with 1:34 left in the game and despite getting several good looks at the net, they were unable to find the equalizer, as the Nanooks fell 2-1 to conclude a winless WCHA season-opening weekend in Mankato.
The Nanooks offenses was more aggressive in Saturday's loss, as they were able to fire 24 shots on goal less than 24 hours after being held to 15 shots on goal against the Mavericks in Friday's contest. Tayler Munson and Marcus Basara led the team with three shots on goal each.
Junior goalie Davis Jones turned in another solid performance Saturday, but was unable to pick up the win as he moves to 1-4-0 on the year. The junior picked up 37 saves in the loss, and collected a total of 77 saves in two games this weekend.
Alaska returns home next weekend for its WCHA home opener, as they'll take on Northern Michigan next Friday and Saturday. Both games will be played at the Carlson Center, with both contests set to begin at 7:07 p.m.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks hockey team follow @NanooksHockey on Twitter or like Alaska Nanooks Hockey on Facebook.
