Men's Hockey Holds On In Finale to Earn Split

Seawolves win Friday, end eight-game winless streak against Mavericks

by Dan Myers
Issue date: 11/14/06 Section: Mens Sports

The Achilles heal of the Minnesota State men's hockey team this season has been its inability to get things going during the first period.

But it was the third period of both games this weekend against Alaska-Anchorage that decided the outcome. In Friday's 3-2 loss to UAA, the Seawolves scored the game winner with just under four minutes to play. The goal was their second of the period, and came just seconds after MSU had tied the game at two.

In Saturday's 3-2 Maverick victory, it was their ability to play well enough defensively to keep UAA at bay long enough to end a five-game losing streak.

"It's good to win a one-goal game instead of lose a one-goal game," said Mavericks head coach Troy Jutting. MSU's previous three games had all been decided by one goal, and all had been losses.

The difference between winning and losing the one-goal games isn't much, according to Jutting. Sometimes, it's just a matter of a bounce or two here and there.

"There's not much difference between [Friday and Saturday night]," Jutting said. "We just scored one more than they did."

There was one major line-up change between Friday and Saturday, as Jutting inserted sophomore goalie Mike Zacharias into the line-up for Game 2. Friday's starter Dan Tormey played better, but still was not entirely on top of his game.

Zacharias, despite playing in his first game this season, looked in midseason form. MSU allowed the game's first and final goals, but scored three in between and gave Zacharias an important two-goal cushion, one that he and the Mavs would need.

"I thought [Zacharias] played terrific," Jutting said. "Three times this season our save percentage has been over 90 percent. We are 3-0 in those games."

"It was a little nerve racking at first," said Zacharias, who is unbeaten in his last three starts dating back to last year. "After the first five minutes I calmed down and played pretty good I thought."

The Mavericks also got an unexpected offensive boost from defenseman Steve Wagner. The junior tallied a pair of goals, both in the second period, that were the difference in the game. His slap-shot from the blue line slipped past UAA net minder Nathan Lawson at 6:51.

"I thought I chunked it," Wagner said. "I don't think the goalie was in position and he didn't see it and it went in."

Wagner's second goal at 13:33 of the second period was much more pristine, as he rifled another slapper at the net, this time beating Lawson high over his left shoulder.

"When the goalie went down, I saw the corner and just shot," Wagner said. "You see and you hope you can hit it, most of the time. I guess I hit it."

Wagner's big game was well timed, as the Mavericks played Saturday without defensemen Brian Kilburg ­- injured last weekend against Bemidji State - and Chad Brownlee - who left Friday's game with a leg injury. Both may not play this weekend against Colorado College.

Their absences opened the door for freshman Ryan Gunderson, who suited up for just the second time this season. Gunderson is a hybrid forward-defenseman that dressed up-front earlier this season. Jutting hopes to make him a full-time defenseman, and if his performance Saturday is any indication, the Mavericks might have something.

"I thought Ryan Gunderson played absolutely fantastic," Jutting said. "That's was his first game ever strictly as a defenseman. He kept it simple, made good, smart plays and I thought he did a great job for us."

The Mavericks will hit the road for their first full road trip of the season when they take on Colorado College Friday and Saturday. Face-off from the World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colo. is scheduled for 8:37 p.m. Friday and 8:07 p.m. Saturday.

Dan Myers is the Reporter Sports Editor