ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Despite a three-goal first period, the Alaska Nanooks hockey team fell victim to the No. 4/6th-ranked St. Cloud University Huskies 6-3 in a non-conference tilt at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud on Friday evening. As Alaska continues to search for their first victory of the season, the Nooks fall to a 0-2-1 record overall (0-0-0 WCHA), while the Huskies improve to 2-0-0 on the season (0-0-0 NCHC).

"Obviously we're happy with how we played the first two periods and how strong we came out in the first period," head coach Lance West said on Friday. "I liked our momentum going into the third period even though it was a 3-1 game. Unfortunately, we were outworked in the third period and put ourselves in a bad spot against a really good team on the road like St. Cloud. Going forward, we need to be more disciplined and learn how to close out a game sooner rather than later."

Sophomore forward Kylar Hope opened up the scoring only 1:08 into the first period to give the Nooks a 1-0 lead over the ranked-Huskies. Freshman forward Steven Jandric collected the puck after a SCSU defensive turnover behind the net. Jandric wrapped around the Husky net before making a backhanded pass to Hope, who was sitting backdoor for his first goal of his collegiate career. Fellow sophomore forward Colton Leiter was awarded the secondary assist on Hope's goal.

Alaska used Hope's goal to continue their offensive momentum, as junior forward Ryker Leer made it a 2-0 game in favor of the Nooks only two minutes later (3:29). Leer and linemate senior forward Austin Vieth found themselves on a 2-on-1 odd-man rush entering the SCSU defensive zone before Leer faked the pass to Vieth and sniped far-side. Leer's first goal of the season was assisted by sophomore defenseman Danny Kiraly.

Before the 10-miniute mark in the first period, Alaska made it a 3-0 game as sophomore forward Troy Van Tetering cleaned up a rebound at the 8:29 mark to give the Nooks a favorable lead. After a long shift by the Husky's power play unit, Jandric was released out of the box and skated down an icing made by the Nanooks' penalty kill. Jandric caught up to the puck and corralled it behind the net once again before trying a stuff play on SCSU's goaltender Jeff Smith. After the unsuccessful attempt, Van Tetering fought off a Husky defender to clean up Jandric's rebound in front. Both Jandric and Leer each earned their second points of the night on Van Tetering's goal.

As was last weekend, special teams proved to be the difference-maker, as St. Cloud went 2-for-5 on the man-advantage while Alaska was held to 0-for-2. St. Cloud's Nick Poehling tallied a power play goal at the 14:09 mark of the second period to make it a 3-1 game.

The third period was a tough one for Alaska, as the home team netted four goals in the final 20 minutes that included another power play tally and an empty-net goal to seal the 6-3 victory.

Alaska was outshot by their opponent 42-25 while sophomore goaltender Anton Martinsson collected 36 saves, including 15 in the first period alone, for a game- and career-high. On the other end of the ice, Smith registered 22 saves against the Nanooks.

The Nanooks will take on the No. 4/6 St. Cloud Huskies in another non-conference contest at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center tomorrow (Saturday), Oct. 14 at 4:07pm AKDT.

For more information on the Alaska Nanooks hockey team, follow @NanooksHockey on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks Hockey team page on Facebook.