Once again, the Chargers came back from a beat down to play a better game the next night. Considering the opponent, this was no small feat this time around.
One night after getting pasted by third-ranked St. Cloud State 10-0 on Friday, UAH was never out of it Saturday, rallying from two goals down but falling 4-3 to the Huskies on Saturday.
St. Cloud State still held a decisive edge on puck possession in the UAH zone, and in shots on goal at 42-15. But thanks to Matt Larose’s glove and some timely passes, the Chargers didn’t make it so easy for Nic Dowd on the second night of his Huntsville homecoming.
St. Cloud State dominated most of the first period, peppering Larose with the first 10 shots on goal through the first seven minutes of the game. The Huskies took the early lead as Cory Thorson punches in a rebound at the 6:16 mark, and confirmed after a lengthy video review.
The action remained mostly in the UAH end, but the Chargers finally capitalized on their rare offensive opportunities. Regan Soquila wristed the puck past SCSU goaltender Ryan Faragher on a feed from Matt Salhany in the left corner to tie the game at 1-1 at the 10:56 mark.
It was Soquila’s first goal as a Charger, and Salhany’s first assist. Wade Schools picked up the second assist, his second of the season.
Despite being outshot 16-7, UAH found itself tied with the third-ranked Huskies after one period.
It was mostly Huskies again the second. St. Cloud extended their lead to 3-1 after Dowd’s great stick work led to a goal at 8:56, and David Morley’s goal off a nice feed from the point at 13:40.
Larose had the glove working, however, to keep the Chargers in the game. He made several glove saves, including three critical stops during a two-minute, two-man advantage for St. Cloud late in the period after Craig Pierce was penalized for holding the stick and Code Marooney was called for slashing.
The Chargers rallied in the third with two unanswered goals. Frank Misuraca’s outlet pass along the far boards went to Craig Pierce, who centered it to Stephen McKenna, who scored his first goal for the Chargers. UAH cut St. Cloud’s lead to 3-2 with 16:29 left.
UAH tied the game on the power play with 6:09 left. Steve Koshey’s drive from the center point went to Jeff Vanderlugt, who found Matt Salhany, who got his second goal of the season.
However, Daniel Tedesco was able to beat Larose just 27 seconds later to regain the lead for the Huskies. UAH came up short after pulling Larose for an extra attacker in the final minute and a couple of last-chance rushes.
Larose made 38 saves as the Chargers suffered their fourth one-goal defeat of the season.
There were other bright spots: UAH’s maligned penalty killing had a good night, stopping all five of St. Cloud’s power plays (including the two-man advantage late in the second). This was the Chargers’ highest scoring output of the season as well.
The Chargers resume WCHA play next weekend when they visit Northern Michigan. The next UAH home games are December 13 and 14 against Minnesota State.