Cloquet, MN | 1/5/24 | Jacqueline Hixssen
After digging themselves a 2-0 hole, the Anchorage Wolverines managed to tie the game in the second, but ultimately fell to the Minnesota Wilderness 3-2.
Logan Nagle secured the first goal of the night for the Wilderness just five minutes into the contest. The Wolverines went scoreless throughout the first, despite having 14 shots on goal compared to the Wilderness’ seven.
Peteris Purmalis won the face-off to begin the second frame, saucing the puck to Gustav Ozolins who found Daniel Astapovich 17-seconds into the game; tallying Minnesota’s second goal of the night, putting the Wolverines in a 2-0 deficit.
5:52 into the second Romulus Reigo de Dios found the back of the net to put the Wolverines on the board, closing Minnesota’s lead to one.
The goal was Riego de Dios’ ninth on the season, but second since wearing the Wolverines’ sweater.
Bryce Monrean opened the final period with a goal at 1:45, assists coming from Fedya Nikolayenya and Tai Ushio, grabbing the equalizer and closing Minnesota’s gap.
Aiden Shirey dulled the light for the Wolverines with his game winning goal at 7:33 for the Wilderness.
Anchorage’s last attempt to come back came in the last minute, pulling goaltender Liam Beerman to give Anchorage the man advantage.
The clock ran down with the puck in Minnesota’s defensive zone, but Anchorage couldn’t pull
