USIU Defeats Alaska Fairbanks in Hockey, 7-2 : Lundgren Scores a Hat Trick to Keep the Gulls’ NCAA Playoff Hopes Alive
United States International University kept its NCAA playoff hopes alive by outmuscling Alaska Fairbanks, 7-2, at the San Diego Ice Arena Tuesday night.
USIU (13-12) has won 10 of its last 12 games, losing only to seventh-ranked Michigan State on the road.
“The last six weeks we’ve finally been healthy,” USIU Coach Brad Buetow said. “I think we’re playing, by far, the best of any independent team. Tonight we just got on them early.”
The offense that was missing when the Gulls were swept twice by 6-1 scores at Fairbanks in mid-November, dominated Tuesday’s game.
Center Matt Lundgren, from Seal Beach, scored a hat trick to lead USIU’s attack.
The Gulls, who are battling Fairbanks, Alaska Anchorage and Merrimack College for the lone berth guaranteed to an independent school in the NCAA championships, must win its final five games of the season to have a serious chance at postseason play.
USIU plays Fairbanks (18-8-2) again tonight at 7:30. The Gulls then play host to the Air Force Academy Saturday and Sunday and finish the season against Alaska Anchorage February 26-27. Anchorage also swept the Gulls in USIU’s first regular season games.
Fairbanks looked as if it would continue to dominate the Gulls Tuesday as center Jeff Crossley scored just 3:40 into the first period.
USIU tied the score with a goal by right wing Dave Nash at 11:50. The goal was set up by Matt Shaw, whose shot from just in front of the blue line bounced off goalie Mike Carr to Nash, who sent it back through Carr’s legs.
Lundgren scored his first goal from 10-feet out on the right side at 1:52 of the first period.
Though USIU dominated the first and second periods, the Gulls were unable to take advantage of two power-play opportunities early in the second period.
Fairbanks, in fact, nearly scored twice in short-handed situations. Brent Mowery knocked the puck off the stick of the Nanooks’ Keith Street as he raced alone toward USIU goalie Tony Couture. Later, Mowery was beaten by Ricky Pitta, who took the puck to the goal but couldn’t score when Mowery was called for holding. USIU was able to kill the subsequent two-minute penalty.
Returning to full strength, the Gulls took command of the period and the game.
Lundgren scored his second goal at 10:14 of the second period when he hit a crossing shot from the right side that hit the left post and bounced in to give USIU a 3-1 lead.
Tom Genz scored a minute later off his own rebound. Genz took a pass from Mowery on the left side, raced toward the net and had his first shot rejected by Carr. The puck bounced back in front of Genz, who then pushed it past the goalie.
Lundgren completed his hat trick with 2:09 left in the second period to give USIU a 5-1 lead. Freshman Blake Jergens and Shaw added third-period goals.