KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan capped off a sweep of Alaska Anchorage with a 5-2 victory on Saturday night at Lawson Arena. The Brown and Gold improved to 13-4-1 overall on the season. 

WMU got two goals from each of Owen Michaels and Liam Valente while Iiro Hakkarainen tallied the other one. Tim Washe won 16-of-17 faceoffs and Cameron Rowe made 12 saves in net. 

FIRST PERIOD
It didn't take long for the Broncos to assert themselves, as they scored 38 seconds into the game. A deflected shot out front found the stick of Michaels and he scored to make it 1-0 WMU. A few minutes later, the Brown and Gold would make it 2-0 with a goal from Valente. 

Grant Slukynsky fired a pass to Valente in front of the net, and he ripped a shot by the UAA goaltender to make it a 2-0 game. About a minute later, the Seawolves committed the first penalty of the game, giving Western Michigan a power play. 

After working the puck around the offensive zone, Valente scored on a one-timer to push the WMU lead to 3-0 not even six minutes into the game. A little bit after the game's third goal, Western Michigan was sent off for interference. 

The Seawolves would get one shot and hit the post on another, but the Broncos would eventually get back to full strength. Late in the period, UAA would add a goal to make it a 3-1 game. WMU carried a two-goal lead into the second period of action. 

SECOND PERIOD
Western Michigan was given a penalty two seconds into the middle frame, but UAA wasn't able to do anything on the man advantage. The Seawolves didn't get a shot in that stretch. 

Following that penalty, WMU started to take control, getting good looks from Matteo Costantini and Tim Washe. In the back half of the period, Grant Slukynsky and Zach Nehring had a trio of shots saved by UAA. 

In the closing minutes of the middle period, Slukynsky and Brian Kramer would have shots saved. The Broncos carried a two-goal lead into the final period. 

THIRD PERIOD
The Brown and Gold struck quick again, as Hakkarainen got a nice feed from Tristan Lemyre to make it a 4-1 WMU lead. The goal was Hakkarainen's third of the season and came in the opening six minutes. 

Anchorage would net a goal to make it 4-2 in the middle of the frame, but it was all Broncos from there. WMU got a power play with about five minutes left, finding multiple good looks on net. However, UAA would work its way back to full strength. 

The Seawolves pulled their goalie looking to get back in the game. Michaels scored into the empty net but had the goal waved off for offside. However, moments later, Michaels would eventually get the empty net goal to secure a 5-2 victory for the Brown and Gold. 

UP NEXT
WMU is off next week and will be back in action on Jan. 17 at North Dakota. Puck drop is set for 8 PM ET.