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Coming through in the clutch

Craighead scores game-winner with 1:15 left to lift NMU over Anchorage

By RYAN SPITZA

Journal Sports Writer

MARQUETTE — All it takes is one.

That proved true on Saturday night for the Northern Michigan University hockey team, which was unable to put anything into the net after the first period until junior forward Darien Craighead struck gold on the power play with 1:15 remaining in the third, giving the Wildcats a 2-1 victory over Alaska-Anchorage and their first sweep of the season.

NMU is now 5-7-0 overall and 4-2-0 in WCHA play, moving into a three-way tie for first place with Michigan Tech and Minnesota State.

For the Wildcats, finding the back of the net has been troublesome as of late. That was no different this game, but NMU head coach Grant Potulny finally found the offense he was looking for in the waning minutes.

“At the start of the second period, we could have blown the top off of the game,” he said. “We had some chances with breakaways and yawning nets and just didn’t finish. That can be challenging for athletes when you feel like you’re playing good and you’re not getting rewarded. Tonight was a game we just had to have some mental toughness and stay with it.

“I thought for stretches in the third period we were really coming and you almost felt like it was just a matter of time. Then we earn a power play, have five really offensive guys on the rink and big players make big plays in big moments. It was a big goal that Darien scored.”

Craighead described his fifth goal of the year as one he had to draw up with his linemates.

“I think we kind of switched up the power play there so we could get more pucks on net,” he said. “I was telling Troy (Loggins) the play before, he took a shot and blocked it. I was open on the back door and told him after you get a shot, move it to Philip (Beaulieu) or move it to me. The same play happened again, he moved it to Phil who moved it to me and I just kind of had to tuck it home.”

NMU senior Adam Rockwood opened the scoring 3:52 into the game with his second tally of the year. Craighead picked up a pass behind the UAA net from senior defensman Tony Bretzman. Craighead proceeded to feed it out front to a waiting Rockwood, who fired it home past Seawolves goaltender Kris Carlson to make it 1-0.

The Wildcats had the first power play opportunity of the night later in the period when UAA senior Nils Rygaard was sent to the box for the third time of the weekend on a hooking call. NMU managed three shots on Carlson, who fended off each of them to kill the penalty.

With two seconds remaining in the first, NMU sophomore defenseman Robert Fosdick committed a cross-check, giving UAA 1:58 of power play time to begin the second.

Shots were 11-3 in favor of the Wildcats after the first.

The Seawolves evened the score in the second with senior Jeremiah Luedtke taking a cross-ice pass from freshman Zach Court, who beat NMU senior goaltender Atte Tolvanen who attempted to lay out to make the save. Sophomore Jordan Xavier also assisted on the goal, which made the game 1-1 at 4:35 of the second.

NMU had two power play opportunities in the second thanks to a slashing call on UAA junior Jonah Renouf and a hold on sophomore Trey deGraaf, but came up empty on each.

UAA also had a power play with a cross-checking call to NMU freshman Grant Loven, but the Seawolves also couldn’t capitalize on the advantage.

The teams went back and forth in the third, each with opportunities to score. With nothing going in for either side, NMU got the chance it needed with 2:51 to go.

UAA freshman Tanner Schachle took an interference penalty in the Wildcats zone, putting NMU on the man-advantage for the fourth time.

After a Loggins shot was blocked, the puck came out to Beaulieu at the point, who found Craighead waiting on the left side for the top-shelf finish past Carlson with 25 seconds remaining on the power play.

NMU travels to Lake Superior State Friday and Saturday with puck drop set for 7:07.

Email Ryan Spitza at sports@miningjournal.net.

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