MARQUETTE, Mich. — Alec Hajdukovich netted a goal in the final two minutes of overtime to lift Alaska-Fairbanks to a 3-2 win over the Northern Michigan hockey team Friday night at the Berry Events Center.

Barrett Kaib tied the game at 11:45 of the third period, and the Wildcats killed off three penalties in the final and extra frames, but the Nanooks capitalized on a transition play to fell the home team.

The first period was marked by extended time spent on special teams as Northern Michigan and Alaska-Fairbanks combined to take six penalties. The Nanooks had an extended 5-on-3 advantage near the halfway mark, but Atte Tolvanen only had to turn aside a single shot as the Wildcats gained possession early and kept the puck pinned in the Alaska-Fairbanks end.

Near the end of the period, Northern Michigan had two chances to pull ahead. The first came with 4:29 left when Zach Diamantoni and John Siemer executed a give-and-go on the rush that gave Siemer a clear look at net, but Jesse Jenks was able to deflect his shot into the netting. Then, with 3:13 remaining, Darren Nowick weaved through the defense and fired a shot that Jenks managed to cover.

Ryker Leer's first collegiate goal gave the Nanooks the lead at 4:19 of the second. Sprung ahead on a breakaway by Nick Hinz, the freshman slipped the puck through Tolvanen's five hole.

The Wildcats responded with a breakaway goal of their own at 6:52. On the power play, Nowick hit Shane Sooth on the Nanook blue line with a long pass. Sooth walked in alone on Jenks and, like Leer before him, netted a five-hole goal.

Alaska-Fairbanks broke the stalemate early in the third period, with Nolan Huysmans capitalizing on a Northern Michigan miscue to net a goal at 2:17, but Kaib fired a low bullet past Jenks to force overtime.  

With the loss, their second in overtime this season, the Wildcats fall to 8-9-6 (6-7-4 WCHA). They close their series with the Nanooks tomorrow at 7:07 p.m.

NOTES: Northern Michigan leads the all-time series, 32-13-12 ... The Wildcats have skated in 10 overtime games this season; they own a 2-2-6 record in those contests ... Kaib's goal was his first since Oct. 16 against Lake Superior State ... Sooth's two points (1g-1a) matched his career high, last accomplished Nov. 7 at Alaska-Fairbanks ... Dominik Shine had his six-game goal and five-game point streaks snapped ... Northern Michigan outshot Alaska-Fairbanks, 29-27 ... The Wildcats held the Nanooks scoreless on eight power play opportunities.