Hockey upended in overtime at NMU, 4-3
November 26, 2012
Jamie Foland
474-6807
A last minute short-handed goal by senior assistant captain and right wing Andy Taranto (Communication) tied the game and forced overtime but the Alaska Nanooks saw the Northern Michigan Wildcats answer back 52 seconds into the extra session to beat them 4-3 on Friday night at the Berry Events Center.
Senior forward Adam Henderson (Masters of Business Administration) and Jarret Granberg (Business Administration) scored first period goals and the 'Cats answered back with three of their own in the middle frame to take a 3-2 lead into the final 20 minutes of play. Taranto stepped up to score the short-handed game-tying goal with 54 seconds left in the contest and knot the game at three all, but NMU's Scott Macaulay scored short-handed and unassisted at 52 seconds of overtime to earn the host Wildcats three points in the Central Collelgiate Hockey Association standings.
"I thought at times we got away from our details (forechecking, backchecking, management of the puck) and that was the theme after the game for me," said head coach Dallas Ferguson. "We've got to shore those things up because even though they don't always result directly in a goal they are things we can control."
The loss continued the Nanooks' winless streak in Marquette to 15 games, as they are now 0-9-6-4 in that span. Alaska also moved to 6-5-2 on the season, 4-4-1-0 in CCHA games and in sole possession of fifth place in the conference standings. Northern improved to 5-6-2 overall and 2-5-2-0 in league play putting them 10th in the 11-team league.
Henderson scored his second goal of the season and put the Nanooks on the board at 7:03 of the first period with assistance from seniors Chad Gehon (Business Finance) and Nik Yaremchuk (Business Management).
Later in the same frame, Granberg doubled the Nanooks' lead when he beat NMU goalie Jared Coreau at 15:43 and made it 2-0 for the visitors.
NMU responded in the second period, scoring three straight goals to gain a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes.
Jake Johnson jumpstarted the comeback and made it 2-1 when he beat Alaska netminder and senior Steve Thompson (Psychology) with a wrap-around goal at 3:08 of the middle frame.
Kory Kaunisto tied the game at 6:50, when he deflected a shot past Thompson to knot the game 2-2, and Wildcat Wade Epp gave the hosts the 3-2 advantage when he scored at 12:37. CJ Ludwig and Reed Seckel notched assists in the score.
Both teams battled from end to end with few scoring quality scoring chances on either side. NMU had man-advantage opportunities twice down the stretch, but it was Taranto who would light the lamp for the visiting Nanooks at 19:04 to tie the game 3-3 and force overtime with his 99th career point.
A penalty two-minute minor for cross checking by NMU's Ryan Daugherty at 19:55 of the final frame gave the Nanooks a prime chance to get three points as they carried 1:55 of their fourth power-play chance into the extra session; however, it was Macaulay who would capitalize on an errant play, deal the Nanooks a road loss and give the Wildcats their second league win on the season.
For the game, Thompson turned aside 14 shots, while Coreau made 23 at the opposite end. The Nanooks outshot the 'Cats 26-18 in the contest but both teams were held scoreless in four power-play chances.
The Nanooks get another shot at changing their fate at the Berry Events Center on Saturday evening when the teams close out the weekend series at 7:35 p.m. EST (3:35 p.m. AKT).
"We have to find a way to dig deep and get some points this weekend," Ferguson said. "If we shore up some of our details and manage the puck a little bit better we can capitalize on our opportunities and be in good shape tomorrow."