The Chargers couldn’t find the consistent offensive pressure in a 4-1 loss to Northern Michigan on Friday.
Reed Seckel scored twice, and Mathias Dahlstrom made 27 saves as the Wildcats kept their WCHA postseason aspirations alive.
The first period belonged to Northern Michigan, but the Wildcats could only manage a 1-0 lead. The goal was on the power play by Brock Maschmeyer, who fired a shot through traffic from the center point that UAH goaltender Matt Larose could not track.
The Chargers increased their scoring opportunities toward the end of the first period, but could not convert. Jack Prince was denied on a point-blank shot by NMU goalie Mathias Dahlstrom for UAH’s best chance.
Meanwhile, Larose was sharp. He kept the UAH deficit at 1-0 after a sliding save on a John Siemer. NMU had a 16-9 shots advantage after one.
Northern Michigan quickly made it 2-0 to start the second. Dominik Shine went top shelf over Larose’s glove at the 1:06 mark.
UAH had more pressure in the second, however, and finally broke through on the power play after Austin Handley’s holding call. Cody Marooney deflected a Brandon Carlson shot past Dahlstrom for his second goal of the season with 3:58 left. Craig Pierce got the second assist.
NMU extended its lead back to two with 4.3 seconds left. Reed Seckel’s shot went five hole on Larose for a 3-1 Wildcats lead after two.
The Wildcats scored their final goal with 11:13 left. After UAH’s Mat Hagen had a breakaway coming out of the penalty box that was denied by Dahlstrom, Seckel — who was also in the box with a coincidental high sticking penalty — drove toward the net and beat Larose for his second goal of the game.
UAH fell to 2-34-1, tying the 1999-2000 Michigan Tech Huskies for the NCAA record for losses in a season.
The season finale is tomorrow night at 7, and free general admission is again available thanks to Huntsville International Airport. It will be Senior Night, as the Chargers bid farewell to Hagen, Alex Allan, Brice Geoffrion, and C.J. Groh. The first 500 fans will receive a free mini Saturn V rocket courtesy of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.
Photos from Chris Brightwell
Photos from Jazzmine Jordan: