Box Score

HOUGHTON, Mich. | The University of Alabama in Huntsville hockey team dropped the series opener to WCHA opponent No. 9 Michigan Tech on Friday night at John J. MacInnes Arena by a final score of 5-0. UAH slips to 7-17-3 (6-13-0 WCHA), while MTU improves to 19-7-1 (14-4-1 WCHA).

The first period was a defensive struggle as the Blue and White skated to a scoreless tie with MTU through the opening 20 minutes. UAH goalie Carmine Guerriero recorded a game-high 14 saves in the first frame.

However, the Huskies potent offense broke through the scoring drought with a trio of goals in the first half of the second period. Alex Petan put the first tally on the scoreboard at 1:08, Blake Pietilla added another at 2:32 and Malcolm Gould capped off the effort at 5:21 of the second. Both Petan's and Pietilla's markers came on power-play opportunities.

The majority of the third period was scoreless until the Michigan Tech's Joel L'Esperance scored at 15:21 and Dylan Steman made it 5-0 Huskies with a goal at the 19:15 mark of the final frame.

MTU's Jamie Phillips earned the shutout after stopping all 20 shots that came his way. Freshman Brennan Saulnier led UAH with three shots on target, with five different    Chargers chipping in two apiece.

Guerriero posted 32 saves in the loss, while allowing five goals to the Huskies' offense. The Chargers' netminder has posted 30 saves or more in a game on 12 occasions this season.

UAH looks ahead to the series finale tomorrow night at Michigan Tech. Puck drop scheduled for 6:07 p.m. CST.