FAIRBANKS, Alas. – The LIU men's hockey team had an exciting win in the Land of the Midnight Sun Friday, beating Alaska Fairbanks, 3-2. The Sharks beat the Nanooks in game one of the two-game series thanks to a late third-period goal from senior Max Balinson.
 
SHARK BITES

• Alaska would take an early lead twice in the game. The Nanooks opened scoring early with a goal just four minutes in to go up 1-0. Five minutes later, however, the Sharks evened the score.
• Sophomore Isaiah Fox found Nolan Welsh in the neutral zone, and Welsh sent it to PJ Marrocco, who tied it up.
• Alaska would go up near the end of the first, scoring a power play goal to take a 2-1 lead.
• The two sides went scoreless in the second period and for most of the third.
• LIU would tie it up with just over five minutes to play. The Sharks would intercept the puck behind the Alaska net, and Tyler Welsh would find Billy Jerry for the score to make it 2-2.
• The Sharks would sneak out with the win thanks to a late goal from Balison. With 1:22 remaining, the senior would score off a pass from Jerry from behind the net to put LIU up, 3-2.
• Senior goalie Vincent Purpura made 26 saves in net, as LIU went 3-4 in penalty kills.
• With the win, LIU moves to 10-18-3. The two teams resume the series Saturday, March 7 at 11:07 p.m. Eastern time.