Seawolves hockey ties against Lions, Helgeson scores first UAA hat trick in nearly a decade

After battling the Lindenwood Lions for three regulation periods and one overtime period, the Seawolves recorded their first tie-game of the season at 7-7.  Helgeson led UAA with three goals, the first UAA hat trick in nine years. 

Helgeson's dominant game began immediately, with him scoring his first goal just over three minutes into the opening period. The Seawolves then extended their lead to 2-0 with a goal by Brandon Lajoie six minutes later. 

With about six minutes left in the first period, the Lions frantically tried for a goal. Dylan Finlay blocked the shot, but the visitors secured the richotted puck and fired it into the goal. The rest of the period remained scoreless and the Seawolves entered the second period with a 2-1 lead over the Lions. 

The second period featured four goals by both teams. It began just like the first period, with Helgeson immediately scoring. The Seawolves then extended their lead to 4-1 with a goal by Matt Johnson. 

The Lions responded, however, scoring two goals within the next three minutes. Only five minutes into the second 20 minute period, both teams had already scored two goals. The Seawolves led 4-3. 

The next 10 minutes were full of penalties, blocks, and missed shots. Neither team could connect with the goal until Caleb Hite won a faceoff and fired the puck past the goalie. 

The Seawolves drew off this momentum for another goal. Only 32 seconds later Lajoei scored his second goal of the night and advanced UAA's lead to 6-3. 

The Lions didn't accept defeat, though. A little over 30 seconds later they scored their fourth goal of the night, and two minutes after that they connected with the goal again. The Seawolves entered the third period with a 6-5 lead over the opposing team. 

As the third period began, it appeared that both teams had lost their touch. The Seawolves and Lions struggled to connect with the goal, and they both faced several penalties. 

With just over two minutes left in the game, though, the Lions broke the dry spell with a goal, tying the game at 6 apiece. 

The Seawolves felt the pressure, and only 26 seconds later Helgeson completed a hat trick with his third goal of the game and eleventh goal of the season. The crowd broke out into cheers and hats went flying. However, only one Seawolf fan managed to get their hat onto the ice.

It seemed the Seawolves were about to defeat the Lions 7-6, but the visitors refused to give up. They removed their goalie from the game so they could have another offensive player on the ice. And their strategy paid off, because with 31 seconds left in the game, the puck hit the back of the net in the Seawolves' goal and the teams entered overtime. 

In NCAA hockey games, overtime is a five minute period in which the first team to score within the time wins the game. If neither team is able to score, the game is declared a tie.

Both teams took several shots within the five minute period, but tough defense on each side of the ice made it impossible for either team to score and the game ended at a 7-7 tie. 

In an interview with the Assistant Director of Athletics Ian Marks, head coach Matt Shasby praised the Seawolves and the crowd. "I was happy to see the offensive output from all four lines," Shasby told Marks. "Another great crowd tonight, they kept us going through the highs and lows of that game."

The Seawolves returned to the ice the next night to take on Lindenwood for the second game of the series. Once again, the game entered overtime, but this time the Seawolves were able to score within the five minute period and UAA secured a 4-3 victory in the final game of their season.