In compiling a seven-game unbeaten streak, not once did Colorado College have to overcome a third-period deficit.
That changed Saturday.
Trevor Frischmon’s first career goal with under seven minutes remaining gave the Tigers the lead for good as Colorado College rallied past Alaska-Anchorage, 5-2, before 6,023 fans at the Colorado Springs World Arena.
The win improved the Tigers’ record to 8-1-1, including 5-0-1 in league play. The Seawolves, meanwhile, still seek their first conference victory in dropping to 1-5-2 overall.
Playing aggressive defense and making the most of its limited scoring chances, Alaska-Anchorage entered the final 20 minutes with a 2-1 lead. Just 2:03 into the third period, however, Weston Tardy scored the equalizer from inside the blue line.
“I got caught behind the net, and when I came out back out, the puck popped back out, and I just turned and fired,” said Tardy about his second career goal. “I don’t think [Seawolves’ goaltender Kevin Reiter] saw much of it.”
Colorado College controlled the tempo over the next 11 minutes, allowing Alaska-Anchorage just one shot in that span. However, it wasn’t until Frischmon scored off a beautiful give-and-go from Reid Goolsby that the Tigers took their first lead of the game.
“Reid made a great pass, and I didn’t really even look, I just shot,” said Frischmon, the first star of the game. “It’s a little frustrating when you get chances and don’t score like I was. This feels good.”
A normally disciplined Alaska-Anchorage team hurt its chances of rallying late by committing two penalties in a span of 38 seconds. One of the penalties led to Brett Sterling’s goal with 5:10 remaining to give the Tigers a two-goal cushion. Peter Sejna clinched the win with an empty-net tally in the final minute.
The Seawolves, on their first road trip of the season, opened the scoring 5:05 into the contest. Just 10 seconds after a Colorado College roughing infraction, Matt Hanson’s wrister beat screened Tigers’ goaltender Curtis McElhinney for the freshman’s first career goal.
Colorado College knotted the score later in the period, as Sejna’s wraparound attempt deflected to an open Marty Sertich in front of the net. His shot just barely cleared the goal line.
Alaska-Anchorage regained the lead nine minutes into the second period on a one-timer from Curtis Glencross. Reiter made that lead hold up through two periods, stopping 18 of 19 Colorado College shots over the first 40 minutes.
“We weren’t real happy with our intensity the first two periods,” said Tardy. “We got a lot of help in the league last night with upsets, and we said to each other ‘we can’t let this get away’.”
The third period saw Colorado College outshoot the Seawolves 15-3, with two of Alaska-Anchorage’s shots coming after its goaltender was pulled in favor of an extra attacker.
“I think we just wore them down. Plus, they had a long flight, and by the end of a weekend, that can take your toll,” said Tardy. “Also, a lot of it has to do with being in our building.”
McElhinney stopped 15 shots in improving his career record to 12-1-2, while Reiter saved 29 shots in the loss.
