HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The UAH hockey team dropped their season-opener on Friday night to Minnesota State 4-1 in front of a filled Propst Arena at the Von Braun Center.

The barn was packed as a total of 5,106 fans came out to see the 2012-13 season-opener, which is a new NCAA Division I record for UAH - a record that has stood for over 10 years.

The Chargers (0-1) fell behind early and after cutting the lead in half, could not hold off the Mavericks (1-0) in the end and came up short.
 
It was the debut of both Kurt Kleinendorst and Minnesota State's Mike Hastings for their respective schools and Hastings came out on the top in the end. UAH trailed just 2-1 late in the second period and had a couple of scoring opportunities slip away.
 
The Chargers couldn't stay out of the penalty box and allowed the visiting Mavericks to score on three power plays. Minnesota State also added one late even when they were short-handed. UAH finished the game with eight penalties, giving the Mavericks multiple looks at goal.
 
Chase Grant got the scoring going for the Mavericks eight minutes into the game and gave Minnesota State the early 1-0 lead. Grant would add two more goals to record the hat trick and the number one star of the game.
 
UAH forward Craig Pierce scored the lone goal for UAH, that coming in the second period with about four minutes to play. The goal came on the power play and Graeme Strukoff and Doug Reid picked up the assists on the goal.
 
It was Pierce's fourth goal of his young career and was put in off the redirect from Strukoff.
 
John Griggs played a great game between the pipes for UAH, recording 37 saves as he was on the attack all evening. Griggs did allow the four Maverick goals but also had a few spectacular saves as well.
 
The Chargers and Mavericks square off again tomorrow. The puck drops at 7:00 p.m.

For more information contact Joey Daniels, Sports Information Coordinator, at joseph.daniels@uah.edu

Cover photo by Nicholas Franklin