MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Alaska Nanooks hockey team dropped their second-straight Western Collegiate Hockey Association contest on Saturday afternoon, as the No. 20 Northern Michigan Wildcats defeated the Nooks 4-1 at the Barry Events Center. The loss drops Alaska's overall record to 11-17-2 and 9-14-1-1 in conference games, while the Wildcats improve to 20-11-3 on the season and 18-6-2-2 in league matchups.

Northern Michigan opened up the scoring on Saturday, netting an even-strength goal with only 24 seconds remaining in the first period to make it 1-0. NMU's Denver Pierce's quick shot went past Alaska's sophomore goaltender Anton Martinsson for his eighth goal of the season and was assisted by Adam Rockwood.

Rockwood collected his second point of the night, as he scored his eighth goal of the season at the 16:16 mark of the second period. Rockwood's pass went off of an Alaska defender to make it 2-0, with Pierce registering his second point of the game with the primary assist, while Troy Loggins was awarded the secondary.

Less than three minutes into the third period, Alaska finally got on the board as sophomore forward Kyle Marino tallied his second career goal at the 2:36 mark to pull the Nooks to within one. Marino's even-strength goal was assisted by senior forward Austin Vieth and senior defenseman Zach Frye.

Unfortunately for the Nanooks, Northern Michigan's Darren Craighead scored at the 18:26 mark to make it 3-1 before Robbie Payne posted an empty-net goal at the 19:42 mark to seal the 4-2 victory and home conference sweep.

Neither the Nanooks nor the Wildcats were able to capitalize on the man-advantage on Saturday, as the Nooks went 0-for-2 on the power play and the Wildcats went 0-for-3. Both teams tied in shots 20-20 with Martinsson collecting 16 saves for Alaska and NMU's netminder Atte Tolvanen turning away 19 shots.

The Alaska Nanooks hockey team will continue their two-week WCHA road trip, heading to Bemidji, Minnesota next week to take on the BSU Beavers in a two-game conference series next Thursday, Feb. 15 and Friday, Feb. 16 at the Sanford Center.

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