Morley lifts Nanooks past No. 18 Bulldogs with last minute heroics
October 29, 2012
Jamie Foland
474-6807
Rookie center Tyler Morley scored with 50 seconds left in the third period to lift the Alaska Nanooks past the 18th-ranked Ferris State Bulldogs with a 3-2 win and secure a series split in their Central Collegiate Hockey Association openeing weekend.
Alaska (3-2-1, 1-1-0-0 CCHA) got second and third period goals from junior forward Cody Kunyk and Colton Beck, respectively, while FSU's Cory Kane struck first in the first period and Garrett Thompson tied the game 2-2 before Morley broke the tie with what proved the game-winning goal.
“I thought our execution was much better tonight,” said head coach Dallas Ferguson. “I liked how we came out in the third and pressed them; we didn't fall back or go into a shell when they got that game-tying goal and it was a great play by Jarrett (Granberg) to Morley to finish.”
Justin DeMartino set up Kane for the game's first tally at 10:39 of the first period. A turnover Alaska's defensive zone created the opportunity that the Bulldogs' made good on for the 1-0 lead.
The Nanooks had their work cut out for them later in the period, when a pair of minors to Trevor Campbell (boarding) and Andy Taranto (slashing) whistled just 15 seconds apart, setting the Bulldogs up for 3-on-5 and 4-on-5 man-advantage opportunities for over two minutes.
Alaska and sophomore goalie Sean Cahill were up to the task and helped kill off both penalties before the period expired and went on to stop all nine shots he faced in the middle frame.
Midway through the second period Kunyk tied the game 1-1, beating FSU goalie CJ Motte at 9:07. Beck and senior right wing Andy Taranto assisted on the play.
"Cahill was really good in the second period and made some really good saves," said Ferguson. "We ask that of our goaltenders and he did his job and it gave our team a boost. Right after he made a few big saves, Kunyk went down to the other end and scored his goal. The penalty kill in the first period was a real big boost for us as well.”
With 20 minutes to play, the Nanooks knew much needed points were on the line and they continued to press their hosts. The hard work paid off a first time, when Beck lit the lamp with assistance from Kunyk at 9:07 to give Alaska its first lead of the contest.
FSU's Garrett Thompson struck for the second equalizer at 14:12, tapping in a puck that just escaped Cahill uncontested.
The goal didn't deflate the Nanooks, who kept the puck in the Bulldog's end for the majority of the time left and they were rewarded in the final minute of battle, when Granberg sent a neat pass to Morley who deposited the go-ahead goal and eventual game-winner past Motte at 19:10.
For the evening, Cahill turned aside 23 shots, while his counterpart turned aside 36 of Alaska's shots on goal.
Neither team was able to capitalize with the man-advantage as the Nanooks were 0-for-6 and the Bulldogs were 0-for-2.
Alaska returns to Fairbanks, where they host the Lake Superior State Lakers next weekend (Nov. 2-3) at the Carlson Center for their conference home-opener. The teams will face off at 7:05 p.m. both nights.