UAH Athletics

HUNTSVILLE | Connor Merkley scored with less than a second remaining in regulation, helping The University of Alabama in Huntsville hockey team tie Alaska Anchorage 3-3 before the visiting Seawolves earned the extra WCHA point by winning the shootout in downtown Huntsville on Saturday night. The Chargers go to 3-6-1 (2-1-1 WCHA) on the year, while UAA moves to 1-7-2 (1-2-1 WCHA).
 
Turning Point
-With UAH on the power play after UAA was called for too many men on the ice and with an extra attacker on to give the Chargers a 6-on-4 advantage, the Chargers peppered the Seawolves net until finally with 0.9 seconds left in the third, Merkley scored his first career goal to level the contest at 3-3. Josh Kestner and Brandon Parker picked up the assists on the goal.
 
Scoring Breakdown
-Kestner started the scoring in the game when he scored on the power play at the 7:15 mark of the first period with Cam Knight and Tyler Poulsen picking up the helpers, and the score remained that way until the Seawolves scored in rapid succession in the second.
-UAA struck three times in a 5:50 span with the first score coming on the power play at 14:03 off the stick of Nicolas Erb-Ekholm, and the second strike came on another power-play marker at 17:57 from Austin Azurdia.
-The guests then made it a 3-1 lead right before the intermission when Tad Kozun also scored with UAA on the man-advantage at 19:53 of the second.
-UAH then pulled back within one early in the third stanza when Kestner scored yet another one on the power play at the 4:36 mark of the period, and Tyler Poulsen earned the assist on that score.
 
Inside the Box Score
-UAH finished the game with a 42-38 advantage in shots as Jordan Uhelski made 34 saves in the game.
-Kestner fired off a team-best nine shots in the contest.
-Both teams went 3-for-6 on the power play.
-UAA held the advantage in the circle, winning 37 faceoffs compared to 35 for the Chargers on the night.
-Christian Rajic led the Chargers at the dot, recording a 14-11 performance in faceoffs.
 
Noteworthy
- Kestner scored three points and had two goals in a game for the first time this season, giving him four career two-goal performances.
- Poulsen registered two assists in a game for the first time this season, and he now has three, two-point games in 2017-18.
 
Next Time Out
-The six-game homestand for the Chargers continues next weekend when Lake Superior State visits for a two-game set. The puck is set to drop on both Friday and Saturday nights at 7:07 p.m.