Late Goal Gives UAA Tie, Snaps 12-game Losing Streak

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Gregg Zaporzan scored a power-play goal with 1:46 left in regulation to help Alaska-Anchorage earn a 4-4 tie with host Michigan Tech on Saturday night, snapping a 12-game losing streak.

The Seawolves (5-15-2, 3-13-2 WCHA) played the last 2:33 of the third period and 2:27 of overtime with the man-advantage after Tech’s Brett Engelhardt was given a five-minute major for checking from behind and a game misconduct.

Matt Ulwelling had a hat trick and added an assist for the Huskies (6-16-2, 4-13-1), who outshot UAA, 35-26.

The Seawolves grabbed a 1-0 lead when Dallas Steward fired a shot between Jason Moilanen’s legs 2:15 into the game.

Ulwelling tied the game with a power-play goal at 5:19. UAA goaltender Chris King stopped Tim Laurila’s shot from the point, but Ulwelling grabbed the rebound in the slot and desposited it upstairs.

Shortly after UAA had a goal disallowed, Michigan Tech took the lead when freshman Jon Pittis redirected a shot from Ulwelling past King for his first collegiate goal at 3:07 of the second period.

The Seawolves countered at 6:45 when Tyler Schnell beat Moilanen with a shot that snuck just inside the right post, but Tech took a 3-2 lead into the second intermission thanks to Ulwelling’s second goal of the night at 17:30.

Alaska-Anchorage made it a tie game once again when Jesse Unklesbay took a pass from Matt Shasby, raced up the left side, and shot the puck through Moilanen’s five-hole at 5:13 of the third period.

Ulwelling put the Huskies back in front when he completed the hat trick by scoring during a wild scramble in front of the UAA net. Ulwelling’s hat trick was Michigan Tech’s first since Jeff Mikesch scored three times against Northern Michigan on Feb. 9, 1996.

The Huskies were 1-for-3 on the power play, while the Seawolves went 1-for-4.

King stopped 31 shots for UAA, while Moilanen made 22 saves for Tech.