HOUGHTON, Mich. | The University of Alabama in Huntsville hockey team was edged in its 2017-18 Western Collegiate Hockey Association opener at No. 15 Michigan Tech by a final score of 5-4 on Friday night at MacInnes Ice Arena. UAH dips to 0-3-0 (0-1-0 WCHA), while MTU improves to 4-1-1 (2-0-1 WCHA).
 
Turning Point
- After the Huskies tied the contest at 4-4 midway through the third period, Jake Lucchini provided the game-winning goal at 14:31 as the hosts went on to take the series opener 5-4.
 
Scoring Breakdown
- Michigan Tech was first on the board early into Friday's matchup as Dane Birks scored at 1:41 for the 1-0 lead.
- UAH rebounded at 6:45 when Christian Rajic snuck in his first collegiate goal to knot the contest at 1-1, thanks to assists by defensemen Kurt Gosselin and Cam Knight.
- After the break, Michigan Tech began to take control of the game with back-to-back unanswered goals in the second period by Mitch Reinke at 9:14 and Joel L'Esperance at 13:16 to lead 3-1.
- The Chargers again bounced back with a bevy of success on the power play with two man-advantage tallies late in the second stanza as Brennan Saulnier notched his first goal of the season at 16:36 before Huntsville native Josh Kestner evened the game at 4-4 at 18:46.
- UAH continued its strong performance on the power play into the third period when Tyler Poulsen sent home a terrific feed from Kestner to give the Blue & White its first lead of the night at 4-3.
- However, Michigan Tech tied the game at 4-4 at 10:12 on a goal by Justin Misiak prior to Lucchini recording the game-winner at 14:31.
 
Inside the Box Score
- UAH finished the game with five players with two points in the contest including Knight (0g-2a), Rajic (1g-1a), Poulsen (1g-1a), Kestner (1g-1a) and Gosselin (0g-2a).
- The Chargers were 3-for-4 on the power play while holding Michigan Tech to 3-of-8 on the man-advantage.
- UAH had a total of 28 shots on goal in the contest which includes a game-high 11 shots on goal in the first period.
- Gosselin paced the Chargers with six shots on goal.
- Jordan Uhelski took the loss to dip his season record to 0-2-0, despite totaling 33 saves in the contest.
 
Noteworthy
- The Chargers three power-play goals are the most since the squad put scored three times on the man-advantage against Bowling Green last season on Nov. 19.
- Both Poulsen and Kestner have two, two-point games through three contests in 2017.
- UAH's four goals are the most against a ranked opponent since Oct. 2, 2016 against then-No. 20 Ferris State.
 
Next Time Out
- UAH and Michigan Tech wrap up the WCHA series on Saturday at 6:07 p.m. CT.