MARQUETTE, Mich. – Northern Michigan University hockey scored with just 11 seconds remaining in overtime to defeat Alaska-Anchorage 3-2.  The Wildcats improved to 11-9-6 on the year with an 8-8-4 mark in conference action, while the Seawolves dropped to 7-13-4 with a conference record of 4-12-2.  Northern Michigan out shot Anchorage 37-13 for the contest led by senior defender Mitch Jones who fired nine shots on net.

In a physical first period dominated by the defenses, Northern Michigan was able to get on the board first when freshman forward Robbie Payne buried the puck from the slot after taking a feed from behind the net from freshman forward Zach Diamanotoni.  The goal was number four on the season for Payne and left 2:20 on the clock.

After going 0-6 on the power play last night, Anchorage was able to light the lamp on the first shot of their first power play tonight when Brett Cameron snuck one past sophomore net minder Michael Doan with 36 seconds remaining in the period. 

The Anchorage goal closed out the period at a 1-1 tie with both teams only managing to send four shots on net.

The second period would see no scoring but Northern Michigan was able to dominate for the majority of the period as NMU outshot Anchorage 16-2.  A pair of Seawolf penalties at the end of the period also provided Northern Michigan a 5-3 opportunity to begin the third period.

Anchorage managed to fend off the first penalty, but were still a man down when Jones fired a shot from the right circle that snuck past the blocker of UAA goalie Olivier Mantha.  The sequence started when sophomore defenseman Brock Maschmeyer passed the puck from the right point down to the left circle to sophomore forward John Siemer who then found Jones for the score.

Northern Michigan continued to control the game for the remainder of the period outshooting UAA 16-5 for the period, but NMU was unable to extend their lead.

In the final minute, Anchorage would pull their goalie for the extra attacker when junior defender Barrett Kaib tried to slide the puck from the opposite blue line towards the empty net.  The puck was headed for the net before Austin Azurdia of UAA put forth a diving effort at the least second to keep the puck out of the net.

This play proved to be key as following the ensuing face off Austin Coldwell was able to sneak one past Doan from the right high point with only 19 seconds left to tie the game at 2-2 sending it into overtime.

In the extra period, neither offense was able to put much together until there was only 11 seconds remaining when sophomore forward Sami Salminen went top shelf from the left point to give Northern Michigan the 3-2 overtime win.  Sophomore forward Shane Sooth and Kaib earned assists on the game winner.

"We needed points and needed to get some momentum going for us," commented head coach Walt Kyle.  "We did the things we needed to do to contain them. Our mentality was good all weekend and we were focused on doing what we had to do."

Doan was able to make 11 saves in securing his first win of the season.

Northern Michigan heads to the University of Minnesota-Duluth for the final non-conference series of the regular season Feb. 6-7.  Puck drop is scheduled for 8:07 p.m. (EST) for both games.