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 Mike Forgie scored WSU's first goal of the season. |
Oct. 13, 2007
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Wayne State men's hockey team (0-1-0) lost its season opener, 5-2, to the University of Alaska Anchorage (1-0-0) at the Nye Frontier Classic on Friday night.
Senior Mike Forgie (Scarborough, Ont./Stouffville Spirit) and junior Derek Punches (Manchester, Mich./Texas Tornado) scored for the Warriors, but three straight goals by the Seawolves in the second period proved to be the difference in the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
Craig Parkinson's power-play goal at 9:09 of the opening period put the Seawolves in the lead until Forgie's 5-on-3 tally at 15:56 tied the game at one. Matt Krug (Livonia, Mich./Texas Tornado) and Jeff Caister (Mississauga, Ont./Milton Icehawks) assisted on the play.
Kevin Clark scored twice, including the game-winner, and Brad McCabe added one in the middle stanza to give UAA a 4-1 cushion. Punches' goal at 7:39 in the third, assisted by Tyler Ruel (Port Alberni, Alb./Alberni Valley Bulldogs) who achieved his first collegiate point, made it 4-2, but Josh Lunden, who finished with three points on the evening, ended thoughts of a comeback as he scored with 37 seconds remaining.
Alaska Anchorage doubled Wayne State's shot total, 26-13, while both sides were 1-for-4 on the power play.
UAA goaltender Jon Olthuis totaled 11 saves, and Brett Bothwell (Red Deer, Alb./Yorkton Terriers) stopped 21 for Wayne State.
With the loss, the Warriors are 2-6-1 all-time in season openers and winless (0-5-1) when they start away from home.
Wayne State will face Robert Morris at Sullivan Arena in a non-conference game Saturday at 8:07 ET. Fans can follow the action at UAA's live stats page.
