Alabama-Huntsville broke loose from an early deadlock by reeling off five straight goals, including three straight on the power play, to torch the UAA hockey team 6-2 Friday night in Huntsville, Alabama.
The loss keeps UAA (2-20-1 overall, 1-15-1 conference) firmly in last place in the 10-team Western Collegiate Hockey Association. With four points, the Seawolves are six points behind ninth-place Ferris State and 13 points behind Huntsville and UAF, who share seventh place with 17 points apiece.
The teams will meet again Saturday at noon AST.
The Seawolves, who got goals from Nicolas Erb-Ekholm and Carmine Buono, were outshot 32-23 and gave up goals on three of Huntsville’s five power-play opportunities. The Chargers (5-19-1, 5-11-1) held UAA scoreless on one power play.
“I will take responsibility for this loss and effort,” first-year UAA coach Matt Curley said in a press release from the university. “I did a poor job on a short week and long travel in preparing our team for tonight’s game and it showed in all facets. I know I will be better tomorrow and hope that our team is as well.”
Huntsville struck first midway through the first period. Erb-Ekholm answered for UAA late in the period with a goal assisted by Trey Degraaf and Aaron McPheters. The goal was Erb-Ekholm’s fifth of the season, giving him a team-high nine points.
The Chargers pulled away from the 1-1 tie five minutes into the second period. They scored twice in a 72-second span for a 3-1 edge.
It remained a two-goal game till the final minute or so of the period, when the Chargers scored their first of three straight power play goals. The second came two minutes into the third period and the third came halfway through the third period.
That gave Huntsville a 6-1 lead. The Seawolves made it 6-2 with about four minutes remaining on Buono’s second goal of the season, which came off an assist from Tanner Schachle.
Kris Carlson made 26 saves for UAA.
Huntsville got three points from Hans Gorowsky, who scored two power-play goals and assisted on a third. Mark Sinclair stopped 21 shots for the Chargers.