Saint Louis, Missouri (3/7/24):  Day 1 of the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Championship kicked off with the Men's Divisions 1 and 3 hitting the ice at both Centene Community Ice Center and Maryville University Hockey Center.

 

Men's Division 1

Game 1: #21 Missouri State University over #12 University of Utah, 4-3

The M1 Nationals kicked off with an upset as the Bears knocked off the Utes.  MSU took the lead midway through the 1st period with Utah tying it with just under six minutes left in the first then took taking the lead 2-1 early in the 2nd period.  Missouri State answered back quickly with two goals in three minutes of each other to retake the lead at 3-2.  They pushed the lead to 4-2 before the end of 2nd period and held on for the last 4:45 the game after the Utes got back within 1.  

Missouri State will now take on #5 UNLV at 10:15am (CST) on Saturday.

 

Game 2: #20 University of Pittsburgh over #13 University of Arizona, 5-2

Pittsburgh wasted no time taking the lead in their contest vs. Arizona, scoring two minutes into the game, then backing it up with a power play goal to take a 2-0 lead.  Arizona answered with a power play goal of their own to go into the first intermission down 2-1.  Neither team was able to add to the scoresheet in the middle frame though the teams combined for 34 shots.  The Panthers broke the scoring drought with just over 10 minutes left in the game, and pushed Arizona to the brink just 25 seconds later with a power play goal to lead 4-1.  UA was able to scratch out another goal to get back within 2, but Pitt hit the empty net with 1:36 left in the contest and won 5-2.

University of Pittsburgh will now face #4 University of Jamestown on Friday at 10:15am (CST)

 

Game 3: #11 Purdue University-Northwest over #22 Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 11-3

Special teams was the name of the game this game as the game featured 16 penalties and 10 power play goals.  Eight of those goals were scored by PUNW, part of a six goal third period onslaught, that took a 4-1 game after forty minutes and made it 11-3.  Andrew Remer got the first hat trick of the Nationals along with two assists for a five point game.  The Pride became the first higher seed to advance, after the day started with two upsets.  

Purdue University-Northwest is back in action on Saturday vs. #6 Maryville University at 1:15pm (CST)

Game 4: #14 Grand Valley State University over #19 University of Delaware, 6-5

It was a game of streaks in this matchup.  The higher seeded Lakers dominated the Blue Hens in the first period, scoring three goals on 14 shots and keeping Delaware off the scoreboard.  UD turned the tables in the second, taking their turn at dominating, getting the score within one at 3-2.  GVSU got on the sheet right before the end the 2nd period with a power play goal less than a minute left in the period to hit the break up 4-2.  It looked liked the game was over after Grand Valley got two goals within the first five minutes of the 3rd to make the score 6-3.  However, Delaware fought back over the last 15 minutes to make the game 6-5 with 3:34 left in the game. GVSU was able to tighten up and kept the score right were it was and survived and advanced.

Grand Valley State University will not play #3 University of Central Oklahoma at 1:30pm (CST) on Friday.

 

Game 5: #10 University of Mary over #23 West Chester University, 3-1

Mary, in their first year at Division 1, was able to get their first tournament win that M1, over West Chester.  In a game that saw the first goal review of the Tournament, an unsuccessful challenge by the Marauders, neither team could score in the opening frame.  Mary broke through when they scored six seconds into their lone power play of the game.   West Chester was able to tie it just before the end of the second period.  The tie was broken a couple of minutes into last period and then an empty net goal sealed the deal to win 3-1.

University of Mary will take on #7 Liberty University at 8:00pm (EST) on Friday.

 

Game 6: #15 Calvin University over #18 Indiana Tech

After a slow first period that saw both teams feeling each other out, the Knights found their rhythm and buried three goals in the 2nd period and two more in the 3rd to cruise to a 5-1 win.  Kyle Vandusen and Krzysztof Petryla each had two goals, while Ethan Pool picked up three assists in the game.  The lone goal for the Warriors was in the 2nd period by Mason Bazaluk.

Calvin will now face off against #2 Adrian College on Friday at 4:45pm (CST)

 

Game 7: #24 Oswego State University over # 9 Niagara University, 4-1

In what is probably the biggest Day 1 upset is several years at the M1 tournament, the #24 seeded Oswego State team scored four straight goals in the first 40 minutes of the games to cruise to a 4-1 victory over the Purple Eagles.  While Niagara led in shots, 32-27, they did not get on the scoresheet until the 18:28 mark of the 3rd.  Neither team had any success on the power play, going a combined 0-13 on the man advantage.  

Oswego State University will now face #8 Ohio University on Saturday at 8:00pm (CST)

 

Game 8: # 17 Grand Canyon University over #16 Illinois State University, 4-3

The final game of Day 1 did not disappoint as the Lopes and Redbirds went back and forth for sixty minutes.   The first period had GCU getting the lead and ISU tying it up. The 2nd period saw the reverse, with Ilinois State going up 2-1 and then Grand Canyon getting it to square.  The Redbirds took a early third period lead, but the Lopes tied the game at 3-3 just 12 seconds later.  The winning tally, by GCU happened with just over three minutes remaining in the contest, and they held on for the final minutes to advance to Round 2.  

Grand Canyon University will play #1 Minot State University on Friday at 8:00pm (CST)

 

Men's Division 3

Pool A

Game 1: University of Arkansas over Colby College, 6-5

Colby, in their first time at Nationals took on Arkansas, who is in their last Division 3 Nationals, as the Razorbacks will be moving to Division 2 next season.  It was a back and forth first 20 minutes with the University of Arkansas finding the back of the net twice, and the Mules finding it once.  That trend continued, as the second period had the Razorbacks pushing their lead over Colby to 4-2.  Colby College was able to rally back with two goals in a span of 40 seconds midway through the third period to tie the game at 4.  However, Arkansas regained the lead with 7:30 left in the contest and sealed it with an empty net goal to win 6-4.

 

Game 2: Lawrence Tech over Saint Vincent College, 10-1

Lawrence Tech came in as the top seed in the tournament and the Blue Devils played up to the ranking.  LTU overwhelmed St. Vincent, a team that was making their first appearance in the Nationals, outshooting the Bearcats with 2 in the 1st, 3 in the 2nd, and 5 more in the 3rd.  SVC lone goal came on the power play with eight minutes gone in the 3rd period by Zachary Motil.  Luke Radu had a hat trick for Lawrence Tech.

 

Friday's schedule

Colby College will face Lawrence Tech at 2:15pm (CST)

Arkansas will square off with Saint Vincent at 5:15pm (CST) 

 

Pool B

Game 1: Calvin University over Dartmouth College, 3-2

Calvin helped kick off the day at Centene with an upset win over Dartmouth.  The Knights outshot the Big Green each period, finishing with a 37-21 edge in shots.  Down 1-0, DC had a chance to take control of the game after Calvin took a major penalty for boarding.  However, when the teams went back to 5 on 5, Calvin has extended their lead to 2-0, thanks to a shorthanded goal by Tommy Postal.  The Big Green did respond by tying the game with the lone goal of the middle period.  Seemingly destined for the first OT game of the tournament, Drew Klomparens was able to score an unassisted goal with just over two minutes left in the 3rd, and the Knights held on for a 3-2 win.

Game 2: Hope College over Sacred Heart, 3-1

Sacred Heart hit the ice in their first National's appearance taking on last year's National Runner Up, Hope College.  The Pioneers were outshot 20-5 in the first period, but only gave up one goal.  SHU was able to tie the score in the 2nd period and the teams remained tied for the remainder of the 2nd.  The Flying Dutchmen found the back of the net at 14:27 left in the game to take a 2-1 lead and locked up the win with an empty net goal with 37 seconds left.  

 

Friday's schedule

Dartmouth College will face Sacred Heart University at 11:45am (CST)

Calvin University will next take on Hope College at 5:45pm (CST) 

 

 

Pool C

Game 1: Florida Gulf Coast University over Purdue University, 5-4

The Eagles and Boilermakers game looked like it was going to be runaway for FGCU after two periods when FGCU hit the locker room after 40 minutes up 4-1.  Purdue, however, came out firing the puck, scoring twice in the first half of the 3rd.  FGCU iced the game with just over a minute and a half left in the game.  Purdue got back within one, but could not find the equalizer.

 

Game 2: Grand Valley State University over Missouri State University, 7-0

GVSU finished off Day 1 of Nationals with a convincing win of Missouri State on Thursday night.  The Lakers got two goals in the 1st period and never looked back.  Bobby Masters got the only shutout of Day 1 keeping the Bears off the scoreboard.  MSU struggled on the power play going 0-6.

 

Friday's schedule

Florida Gulf Coast will be against Missouri State University at 2:45pm (CST)

Purdue University will next take on Grand Valley State University at 8:45pm (CST)

 

 

Pool D

Game 1: Air Force over Central Maine Community College, 3-2

The Nationals kicked off for Division 3 with this matchup feature the Falcons and Mustangs.  CMCC was stepping on the ice for their first ever Nationals appearance, while Air Force was making their 4th in seven years.  The first two periods heavily favored the experienced team as USAF was able to outshoot Central Maine 34 to 21,and find the back of the net three times.  The Mustangs found their legs in the last period, scoring twice and made the game 3-2.

 

 

Game 2: University of Missouri over Michigan State, 4-2

In it's final year in M3 before moving to M2 next season, the University of Missouri started the tournament as the top seed in Pool D, and looking to make a statement against a perennial M3 power, MIchigan State. The teams exchanged goals in the first, both scoring in the middle part of the period.   The middle frame followed suit as the Spartans scored to take the lead and the Tigers coming back to tie.  The final period, however, was Mizzou's.  Goals at 9:50 gave them the 3-2 lead and another at 1:21 left sealed the victory for Missouri.  UM outshot MSU 37-26 for the game.

 

Friday's schedule

Air Force squares off against Michigan State University at 11:15am (CST)

Central Maine Community College will face University of Missouri at 8:15pm (CST)