MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Alaska Nanooks hockey team fell in heartbreaking fashion on Friday night, dropping a 5-4 double-overtime decision to the Northern Michigan Wildcats in game one of the best-of-three Western Collegiate Hockey Association quarterfinal series at the Berry Events Center. The loss drops Alaska's overall record to 12-20-3, while the Wildcats improve to 20-14-2 on the season.

The Nanooks must win on Saturday, Mar. 9 in order to keep the 2018-19 season alive, forcing a game three on Sunday, Mar. 10.

"I thought our guys played extremely hard and played the game the right way," head coach Erik Largen said on Friday. "We competed and battled but we had a couple individual mistakes that they were able to capitalize on and eventually they got the two tying goals with man-advantages and then they made the final play there to end the game. We had our opportunities to win it but just couldn't finish. I think the guys know we've got to get rested and be prepared for the same type of intensity tomorrow."

Junior goaltender Anton Martinsson made a single-game career-high 44 saves through 90:30 of play on Friday night. Martinsson made 12 saves in the first overtime period, before turning away six in the second overtime.

On the other end of the ice, NMU's goaltender Atte Tolvanen registered 38 saves on the night, including 10 in the first overtime. Northern Michigan edged the Nanooks in overall shots on goal, 44-42.

The Nooks opened up the scoring on Friday night, as junior forward Tyler Cline netted his fifth of the season to give Alaska a 1-0 lead at 16:38 of the first period. After a hard forecheck by the Alaska line consisting of Cline, senior forward Chad Staley and junior forward Troy Van Tetering, Staley was able to corral the puck behind the Northern Michigan net before passing to Cline, who was alone in the slot.

Northern's Joseph Nardi tied the game at 1-1 with an even-strength tally only 2:09 into the second period. Nardi's one-timer beat Martinsson after a 2-on-1 offensive rush by the Wildcats. NMU's Griffin Loughran and Ty Readman were credited with the assists.

Less than two minutes later, Northern took a 2-1 lead at the 3:31 mark after Vincent de Mey put away a loose puck after it was blocked by a UAF defender. de Mey's tally was assisted by Connor Frantti and Michael Slattery.

Alaska tied the game at 2-2 at 10:30 of the second, courtesy of junior forward Kyle Marino. Junior defenseman James LaDouce walked off the wall along the blueline in the NMU zone before firing a shot on net, with plenty of traffic in front. Marino was sitting backdoor before putting away the rebound for his fifth goal of the season.

The Nooks kept it rolling, as sophomore forward Steven Jandric made it 3-2 in favor of the visitors at the 12:46 mark of the second. S. Jandric batted in a rolling puck, following fellow sophomore forward Max Newton's shot on goal.

Rookie forward Chase Ellingson earned his first collegiate goal against the Wildcats, scoring an even-strength goal at 16:05 of the second to make it 4-2. Ellingson found himself on a 2-on-1 rush heading into the NMU zone, looking to pass to his linemate before hitting the brakes and pulling up, freezing Tolvanen. Ellingson's wristshot beat the NMU netminder for his second point of the season, with junior forward Kylar Hope being awarded the primary.

Northern was able to pull to within one, as Loughran scored a power play goal at 5:41 of the third period to make it 4-3. Loughran's one-timer backdoor was assisted by Nardi and Readman.

With 14 seconds remaining in regulation, NMU's Adam Rockwood tied the game at 4-4 with his seventh goal of the season. Rockwood's tally was assisted by Darien Craighead and Philip Beaulieu.

After a scoreless, 20-minute overtime, Nardi sealed the Wildcats' victory at 10:30 of the second overtime putting away a wrap-around pass from Loughran. NMU's Beaulieu was credited with the secondary assist.

Alaska went 0-for-4 on the man-advantage, while Northern Michigan went 1-for-4.

The Nanooks and the Wildcats will face-off again tomorrow (Saturday, Mar. 9) in game two of the best-of-three WCHA quarterfinal series at the Berry Events Center. Puck-drop is set for 3:07pm AKST.

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