UAA Athletics

The UAA hockey team was one minute away from knocking off the 3rd-ranked team in the nation. It settled for a tie.

The Seawolves picked up a precious point Saturday night to stay in playoff contention in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, but the game’s outcome was far more bitter than sweet.

UAA led the nation’s third-ranked college hockey team by two goals with a minute to play in regulation but wound up skating to a 2-2 tie with Minnesota State at the Seawolf Sports Complex.

Neither team scored during the first overtime, but the Mavericks got a goal with 30 seconds remaining in the 3-on-3 second overtime to collect two points to fortify their position as the WCHA’s top team.

The eighth-place Seawolves were awarded one point, allowing them to gain a little ground on ninth-place Ferris State, which has 17 points to UAA’s 20. A victory in regulation or the first overtime is worth three points for the winner; once the game goes into a second overtime or a shootout, the winner gets two points and the loser gets one.

UAA (4-16-6 overall, 4-13-5 WCHA) came out strong after suffering a bruising 7-1 loss to Minnesota State on Friday night. It seized a 2-0 lead with first-period goals by Rylee St. Onge and Luc Brown.

The Seawolves maintained that lead until the final minute, when the Mavericks (24-4-2, 18-3-1) scored twice after pulling their goaltender for an extra attacker. Parker Toumie scored first and Ian Scheid tied it with single digits left on the clock.

In the second overtime, Scheid scored again, this time with 30 seconds remaining.

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The Mavericks had a 37-20 shot advantage, but Kris Carlson kept UAA in the game with 35 saves. The Seawolves were scoreless on two power plays and killed all six of Minnesota State’s.

In Friday’s loss, Minnesota State outshot the Seawolves 37-21 and held them scoreless on three power plays.

UAA has eight games remaining and plays its next four on the road — a pair of WCHA contests at Bowling Green, followed by two nonconference games at Arizona State.

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