Saint Louis, Missouri (3/12/24): Day 6 of the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Championships will have two Cups raised, as Men's Division 1 & 3 will crown a National Championship. Men's Division 2 competes in the second day of Pool Play and Women's Division 2 kicks off their Pool Play.
Men's Division 1 National Championship Game
The National Championship game pitted a team in UNLV looking for it's first title in program history, and Adrian College, looking for it's third. The first 20 minutes saw the Rebels double the Bulldog shots on goal, but could not find the back of the net to get a lead. The first period ended at 0-0. The second period continued to see Nevada-Las Vegas pour on the shots, as they hit 16 for the second period in a row. While AC only had 11 in the middle frame, one of those shots, from Blake Wideman snuck through and crossed the goal line, giving Adrian a 1-0 lead and a period away from the championship. The third period belong to Matteo DiGiulio. The Bulldogs forward scored twice, his 2nd and 3rd of the tournament. When DiGuilio's shot hit the empty net with 12 seconds to go, the only thing left was the celebration. The sticks and helmets went flying and a see of yellow and black formed in the corner of the rink. The Most Valuable Player of the Tournament was awarded to Adrian goalie, Noah Decottignies.
Men's Division 3 National Championship Game
There is nothing that needs to be hyped when two MCHC teams square off on a random Friday night in Michigan, let alone the National Championship game. The #1 and #3 team in the country took to the ice for one thing, the chance to be part of the first National Champion in program history. The teams played an evenly matched period of the hockey, with the only tally coming on the power player from Jacob Jansen. The second, and ultimately the game, belonged to the Blue Devils. LTU scored three times in the period, with the tying and go-ahead tallies being 34 seconds apart, then a De Haas score with 5:57 left to go in the period turned out to be the game winner. The Lakers had on last push as they got a power play goal from Jacob Lewis to make it 3-2. However, Lawrence Tech held on, even being outshot 10-3 in the final period, and put the game on ice with an empty netter with 38 seconds left. When the horn sounded, the players and coaches ended up in a pile of blue and white, knowing that the prize was theirs. The Cup was raised and the Lawrence Tech Blue Devils were crowned the 2024 Men's Division 3 National Champions.
Men's Division 2
Pool A
Game 1: Miami University over Keene State College, 7-5
Both teams came into the contest having gotten huge wins the night before, setting up a key Day 2 matchup in the Pool. It could not have started any better for the Owls. KSC outshot the Redhawks 16-6 and took a 1-0 lead in the first intermission. Keene continued to pour it on with a goal just 41 seconds into the 2nd, and a power play goal eight minutes later. Miami finally broke through with a power play goal of their own at the 12:08 mark. After 40 minutes, the Owls were leading 3-1. The last frame started with MU getting back within one goal just over a minute in. However, KSC responded with two answered goals of their own to lead 5-2. It seemed that Keene was on its way to control of the Pool, and then the whistle blew at 3:03 and everything changed. KSC got a major penalty for spearing and it meant that Miami would be on the power play for the rest of the game. That was when the Redhawks went to work. They scored goals at 2:45, 2:35, and 1:09 on the clock to tie the game. They took the lead with a goal with 22 seconds left and added an empty net goal before the buzzer finally sounded. Five goals in three minutes and Miami went from being 1-1-0 to 2-0-0.
Game 2: Montana State University over Concordia University, 5-1
In a twist of fate, when the puck dropped on this game, Concordia was the only team playing for something. Due to Miami's incredible comeback the Bobcats were eliminated from advancing. The Falcons would be able to set up a huge Day 3 game with Miami if they could get a victory. However, it was Montana State that played like they were still alive, with three straight goals in the first two periods. CUW finally got the board early in the 3rd, but the Bobcats just proved to be too much and got two more scores. With the loss, Concordia was eliminated from advancing out of the Pool.
Wednesday's schedule
Concordia University of Wisconsin will face Miami University at 11:15am (CST)
Keene State College will face Montana State University at 8:15pm (CST)
Pool B
Game 1: Michigan State University of Weber State University, 4-1
With MSU's OT win over Northeastern last night, control of the pool was up for grabs and for Weber State, a chance to keep the hopes of advancement alive. The Wildcats played like it in the first period, firing 13 shots and getting up 1-0 in the first period. The Spartans were able to get the game tied 30 seconds in the 2nd with Kyle Lucia's third goal of the tournament. With no more scoring the middle frame it was shaping up to be fight in the last period. However, MSU blitzed the Weber State in the first five minutes of the period scoring at 1:13 and the then at 3:34 on the power play. Now ahead 3-1, Michigan State closed the door with a goal with 1:04 left in the game to move to 2-0-0 in the Pool. With the loss Weber State was eliminated from advancing out the pool.
Game 2: Northeastern University over Indiana University, 5-2
Knowing that Michigan State won earlier in the day, Northeastern knew that a win was required to stay alive in the chase for the semifinals. The game started fast and physical, with lots of energy from both teams. The Huskies used a burst of offense midway through the period to get two goals in under 90 seconds. The Hoosiers were able to break through with a goal of their own two minutes into the period and cut the lead in half. NU responded by pushing the lead back to two with a tally at 11:02 of the 2nd. The final frame was dominated by Northeastern as they put the game away with the second and third of three unanswered goals to push their lead to 5-1. A late goal by Indiana got it the final score of the game. Both these teams are still alive going into Day 3 and both will need Indiana to beat Michigan State for Northeastern to have a chance to advance when they play Weber State.
Wednesday's schedule
Michigan State University will face Indiana University at 11:45am (CST)
Weber State University will face Northeastern University at 8:45pm (CST)
Pool C
Game 1: Liberty University over Army, 6-3
Due to the Blues practicing this morning in, this game was a rare noon start on the main rink at Centene. The fans that were here for Army and Liberty, as well as those coming in for the M3 National Championship that was happening after were given an entertaining affair that sees the Flames continue to push to get back to their first semifinal in three years. Army, on the other hand looked to say alive in the Pool and build on the good final period last night against Lindenwood. The Black Knights started strong, outshooting the Flames in the first period and getting the only goal of the period to lead 1-0. Army, however, could not stay out of the box, and after avoiding any damage the first two times, they started to get burned. Liberty tied and took the lead in the 2nd on power play goals less than three minutes apart. Then after LU found the back of the net twice more at even strength, the Flames got another PP goal before the next intermission. After being down 1-0 after 20, Liberty was up 5-1 after 40. USMA was able to get two goals in the last period and outshoot Liberty for the game, but it was not enough as Liberty now will wait for the winner of Lindenwood University and University of Providence to see what the options are to advance out of Pool C.
Game 2: Lindenwood University over University of Providence, 3-0
Lindenwood hit the ice with a vengeance and jumped on the Argonauts for two goals in two minutes. After weathering the storm, Providence was able start playing better and held the Lions off the board for the rest of the first and all of the second. During that time, the game was slowed down my both teams making constant trips to the penalty box. LU was able to put the game away six minutes into the third period to make the score 3-0. With the loss, Providence was eliminated from advancing. Lindenwood will now play Liberty in winner take all on Day 3.
Wednesday's schedule
Army will face University of Providence at 2:45pm (CST)
Liberty University will face Lindenwood University at 5:45pm (CST)
Pool D
Game 1: University of Saint Thomas over Metropolitan State University-Denver, 4-2
The Roadrunners knew that they could not start slow against Saint Thomas if they wanted to stay alive in the Pool. MSUD was able to do just that as they scored twice in the 1st period to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. The Tommies found their game in the middle frame getting their first goal just 1:49 into the period and then tying the game with about five minutes left in the 2nd. The score remained tied until UST found the back of the net on the power play 6:19 into the 3rd. Saint Thomas salted the game away when they scored a shorthanded goal with 1:09 left to grab two points. For MSU-Denver, that loss eliminates them from advancing out of Pool D.
Game 2: Florida Gulf Coast University over University of New Hampshire, 5-2
In the final game of the Day 2 of Pool Play for Men's Division 2, FGCU and UNH squared off with advancement scenarios on the line. The Eagles went on a run of three straight goals to take a 3-0 lead in the first 22 minutes of the game. New Hampshire got one goal back in 7:19 into the middle frame and had several opportunities to get the game to within one goal. However, Florida Gulf Coast was instead able to push the lead back to three. The final period had each team getting a goal, with FGCU cruising to a three-goal victory. For the Wildcats, it eliminated them from advancement out of the Pool. For FGCU, they will take on Saint Thomas for a spot in the National Semifinals.
Wednesday's schedule
University of New Hampshire will face Metropolitan State University-Denver at 2:15 (CST)
University of Saint Thomas will face Florida Gulf Coast University at 5:15pm (CST)
Women's Division 2
Pool A
Game 1: Providence College over Liberty University, 4-1
The first game of the W2 Nationals featured Providence who missed the Nationals last season against a Liberty team's first appearance in program history. Providence used that experience to dominate n shots the first period, outshooting the Flames 14-5. Two of those shots found the back of the net for goals and a 2-0 Friars lead after one period. Liberty was able to get on the board with a goal at 3:27 to make it 2-1, but was as close as they would get, as PC got the lead back to 2 just 37 seconds late. An empty netter with one second left pushed the lead to 4-1 and gave the Friars two important points in the Pool.
Game 2: University of Delaware over University of Saint Thomas 4-2
Like the earlier matchup in Pool A, this featured a veteran Nationals team in Delaware, and a team making the Nationals for the first time, in their first year of existence. While the Blue Hens were outshot by almost 3 to 1, two of the five shots were in the net. They bookended the period by getting a goal 1:21 into the 1st and the other with 56 seconds left. The Tommies were able to answer with a their first goal at the 7:04 mark of the second. However, Delaware pushed the lead back to two with a goal of their own seven minutes later. The nail in the coffin came in the 3rd when UD got a power play goal from Julia Nimeh to make it 4-1. UST was able to get back within two midway through the 3rd period, but it was not enough.
Wednesday's schedule
University of Saint Thomas will face Providence College at 10:00am (CST)
Liberty University will face University of Delaware at 3:00pm (CST)
Pool B
Game 1: Assumption University over Villanova University, 6-2
In what would be the biggest upset of the day, the #4 seed in the Pool didn't just beat the #1 seed, they dominated them. From the 2:24 mark, the Greyhounds were off and running. By the time the buzzer sounded to end the period, they have put three goals on the scoreboard. Nova had hit one as well, a power play goal just under five minutes into the contest, but was not expecting to be down two heading into the middle twenty. The second continued Assumption's offensive push, as they got three goals in the span of 11 minutes, including a shorthanded goal with 1:22 left in the period. The final frame had Villanova getting a goal a minute into the period to cut the lead to four, but that was as close as the Wildcats got, and AU picked up an important two points.
Game 2: Dakota College over Adrian College, 4-0
The Lumberjacks blanked the Bulldogs in dominating fashion, outshooting Adiran 34 to 15 in the first two periods. During the first 40 minutes DCB lit the lamp three times, once on the power play in the first period and twice in the 2nd. The fourth goal was at the 12:06 mark of the 3rd period. Adrian could not solve Kara Zelyck who recorded the shutout for Dakota College turning away all 31 shots she faced.
Wednesday's schedule
Adrian College will face Villanova University at 10:00am (CST)
Assumption University will face Dakota College at 3:30pm (CST)
Pool C
Game 1: Assiniboine Community College over Northern Michigan University, 10-2
In probably the most impressive offensive display of Day 1, the Cougars of ACC completely dominated the Wildcats for 60 minutes. Assiniboine raked up 54 shots in the game while holding NMU to 11. Emmalie Thompson, Brooklyn Franklin and Billie Baranyk all had two goals in the contest. Assiniboine opened the score just 3:30 into the game and proceeded to score five more times before the end the period. Northern Michigan was able to get a burst of offense at the beginning of the 2nd and cut the lead to 5-2 with goals two minutes apart. However, that was followed by four unanswered goals by the Cougars to salt the game away and start their Pool play with a big win.
Game 2: Central Michigan University and Boston College tied, 2-2
In the nightcap for the pool, CMU and BC both got power play goals in the first period, and each scored once in the second. Brooke Godsell got both goals for the Eagles to start off her tournament strong. After each team got goals in the first 40 minutes, there was an expectation of more offense in the 3rd period. That offense never came. Their team could get the go-ahead goal in the final period or in OT. Each team gets a point and will try to pick up their first win on Wednesday.
Wednesday's schedule
Boston College will face Assiniboine CC at 12:30pm (CST)
Northern Michigan University will face Central Michigan University at 5:30pm (CST)
Pool D
Game 1: Sault College over Mercyhurst University, 7-0
The Defending National Champions came in looking to make a statement to open Pool Play, and a statement they made. Outshooting the Lakers 55-7, the Cougars hit the ground running with their first goal six minutes into the game, and did not take their foot off the gas until 9:12 into the 3rd period when Emily Moore got a power play goal to close out the scoring for the game. Farrah Farstad got the shutout in her first action of tournament.
Game 2: Navy and Northeastern University tied, 2-2
The last game of Day 1 mirrored their session partner, going the distance to end in a 2-2 tie. The Huskies got a the offensive going with a goal 1:05 left in the first period. Navy responded with a goal of their own 2:48 into the second period. Each team exchanged goals in the 3rd, with USNA taking the lead just over halfway through the period, and NU responding four minutes later to reknot the game a 2-2. Both teams had shot opportunities in the extra period, but neither could get one by the netminder and had to settle for the point each received in the Pool standings.
Wednesday's schedule
Navy will face Sault College at 1:00pm (CST)
Mercyhurst University will face Northeastern University at 6:00pm (CST)
