Saint Louis, Missouri (3/8/24): Day 2 of the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Championship continues today with the top seeds of Men's Division 1 in action, and Pool Play continues for Men's Division 3
Men's Division 1
Game 1: #20 University of Pittsburgh over #4 University of Jamestown, 4-1
The Panthers remains the surprise of the M1 Tournament as they continued their run upsetting the Jimmies and punching their ticket to the Quarterfinals. After a scoreless first period, Pitt jumped out to a 1-0 lead just over two minutes in the second period. Jamestown tied the game right before the end of the middle frame. Pittsburgh took over the last twenty minutes scoring 1:57 into the 3rd to take the lead, with 5:40 left in the game and then sealing the deal with an empty net goal. Ben Leslie had two of the Panthers four goals. Jordan Baranesky was the lone goal scorer for the Jimmies.
University of Pittsburgh will play the winner of Missouri State University and UNLV. They will be the first quarterfinal matchup on Sunday at 10:15am (CST)
Game 2: #3 University of Central Oklahoma over #14 Grand Valley State University, 4-1
Central Oklahoma started their Nationals run with an impressive win over GVSU. The Bronchos found the scoresheet early on their first of three power play goals on the day. The second period was dominated by UCO in terms of shots, by a tally of 11-1 in favor of the higher seed. However, Grand Valley was able to keep the score 1-0 after the first forty minutes. When the final frame commenced, Central Oklahoma opened up the game with two power play goals and an empty netter. GVSU got a goal with less than a minute to go in the contest.
University of Central Oklahoma will now wait for the winner of Saturday's matchup between #6 Maryville University and #11 Purdue University-Northwest. That game will be the second quarterfinal of the day at 1:30pm (CST) on Sunday.
Game 3: #2 Adrian College over #15 Calvin University
Two Michigan rivals squared off on Day 2 with the Bulldogs cruising to convincing win. Both teams played an even first period until two minutes left in the period when Adrian scored with 1:54 left and with 1:00 left to hit the locker room up 2-0. Adrian College doubled their lead in the second period with two goals to lead 4-0. The third period as full of penalties and a lone goal on the Calvin University was scored by Ethan Pool on the power play.
#2 Adrian College will now take on the winner of #7 Liberty University and #10 University of Mary on Sunday's third quarterfinal game at 4:45pm.
Game 4: #1 Minot State University over #17 Grand Canyon University
Minot State began defense of their National Championship today with a matchup with GCU in the final game of the day on the USA Arena. The Beavers dominated the time of possession and limited the Lopes to only eight shots for the game. On the offensive side, MSU slowly put things together to build a 1-0 lead after the 1st, 3-0 after the 2nd and 5-0 by the end of 60 minutes.
Minot State University will take on the winner of Oswego State University and Ohio University in the final Quarterfinal of Sunday.
Men's Division 3
Pool A
Game 1: University of Arkansas over Saint Vincent College, 6-1
The Razorbacks guaranteed themselves a meaningful Day 3 game with their dominating performance against SVC. Arkansas, after leading 1-0, gave up a short handed goal to the Bearcats before scoring three times, twice on the power play to finish the 1st period. Shots in the first 20 minutes were 25-8, in favor of the higher seed. To Saint Vincent's credit, the team did not fold, limiting the Razorback to only two more goals in the final two periods, while getting outshot 44-6. JD Duenwald scored this 3rd and 4th goals of the tournament for Arkansas. With the loss, SVC is eliminated from contention to advance out of the pool.
Game 2: Lawrence Tech over Colby College, 5-2
Lawrence Tech continued to find offensive power in this year's tournament as they peppered Colby's goalie with 56 shots. Combining that with the 43 from yesterday, the Blue Devils have put up 99 shots in two games. However, the Mules were able to hang around in the game because of their penalty kill, which was a perfect 9 for 9 on the night. After taking a 1-0 lead into the first break, Lawrence Tech dominated the 2nd period, getting three goals, including Luke Radu's fourth of the tournament. Colby secured their first goal of the night late in the period. Each team hit the back of the net in the third and finished up the game 5-2. For Colby, this loss eliminated them from semifinal contention. For LTU, they turn to a matchup with Arkansas to determine the winner of the Pool.
Saturday's schedule
Colby College vs. Saint Vincent College 11:15am (CST)
Lawrence Tech vs. University of Arkansas 8:15pm (CST)
Pool B
Game 1: Dartmouth College over Sacred Heart University
The Big Green kept their hopes for advancement alive with the win, but it did not come easy. By the time the 18:00 mark of the second period had hit, Sacred Heart was staked to a 3-0 lead, all of them power play goals. Dartmouth began to chip back into the game with a goal 12:43 left in the 2nd and then another with three minutes left before intermission. DC completed the comeback two minutes into the 3rd to tie the game at 3-3. The game remained tied to until 4:10 left in the contest when Nick Unruh found the back of the net to pull Dartmouth ahead. Sacred Heart at a chance to tied with under 10 seconds left in the game, but the puck bounced over the stick of a Pioneer who had a wide-open net. For SHU, this loss eliminated them from advancing out of the pool. The Big Green will now wait for the result of the Hope College and Calvin University game to see what needs to happen for them to advance.
Game 2: Calvin University over Hope College, 4-3
In the game of the day, two bitter rivals faced off with the potential pool elimination on the line. Calvin jumped out fast with goal just over two minutes into the game. Hope tied it up on the power play four minutes later. The Knights retook the lead with just 17 seconds left in the period to take 2-1 lead into the second period. Both teams were able to light the lamp twice in a wild second period, that saw Calvin take a two goal lead and then give it all back to the Flying Dutchmen. In what turned out the game winner, Chris Bebelos score his second of day and third of the tournament, on the power play to put CU up for good. While there was lots of end to end action in the 3rd period, no goals were recorded. Due to Calvins win over Dartmouth yesterday, the Knights hold the needed tiebreakers to clinch Pool B and are the first team to secure a spot in the Semifinals on Monday.
Saturday's schedule
Sacred Heart University vs. Calvin University 11:45pm
Dartmouth College vs. Hope College 8:45pm
Pool C
Game 1: Florida Gulf Coast University over Missouri State University, 3-1
FGCU entered today's game looking to secure a meaningful Day 3 game, Missouri State was looking to keep their season alive. Florida Gulf Coast did what was needed in order to have their plans come to fruition. The Eagles led 2-0 after the 1st period and held that lead until the start of the third. The Bears were able to make cut the lead in half just 1:55 into the final frame and kept that way until an empty net goal with 21 seconds left in the game put FGCU in the win column and MSU eliminated from advancing out of the pool.
Game 2: Grand Valley State University over Purdue University, 4-0
The final game on the NHL rink was more about the special teams than anything else. Both teams combined to go 0 for 11 on the power play. The Boilermakers were just not able get the bounces in the game, as even though they had the same number of shots as GVSU, they were not able to get one by the Lakers goalie. Grand Valley was able to score twice in the 1st and twice in the 3rd to finish off Purdue and set up a game to determine with the Pool winner with FGCU. Purdue, with the loss, was eliminated from contention.
Saturday's schedule
Missouri State University vs. Purdue University 2:45pm (CST)
Florida Gulf Coast University vs. Grand Valley State University 5:45pm (CST)
Pool D
Game 1: Michigan State over Air Force Academy, 6-4
Goals were coming in bunches in this matchup as the Falcons and Spartans combining for 75 shots between the two teams. USAF had a two-goal lead by the halfway through the 1st period when MSU buried five unanswered goals to end up leading 5-2 just over 5 minutes elapsed in the 3rd period. Air Force finally stopped the run with a score to make it 5-3. The two teams exchanged another goal and Michigan State was able to keep their semifinal chances alive with the win. Since both teams, along with Missouri, have a 2 pts, both these teams will be alive at the start of Day 3.
Game 2: University of Missouri over Central Maine Community College, 6-3
Plager Arena was buzzing for the final game on the rink in Day 2 of Pool Play. Missouri was trying to stay at the top of the pool standings while CMCC was looking to keep the dream of advancement alive. Ethan DeGroat made a statement for the Tigers in the first 20 minutes getting the first two goals of the tournament to give Mizzou a 2-0 lead. The Mustangs responded by getting on the board 38 seconds after Missouri's second goal. The 2nd saw goals happen in a flurry as four tallies, three from the Tigers and one for Central Maine were scored in the span of 2:17. CMCC got a power play goal with eight minutes to go in the period to stay within striking distance at 5-3. Both teams had opportunities to score in the 3rd but the scoresheet remained clean until an empty net goal with under a minute in the game closed the book on any chance of a Mustangs comeback. This loss ended Central Maine's chances of advancing out of the Pool. For Missouri, they will await the outcome of the Michigan State and CMCC game to see what their paths are to get out of the Pool vs. Air Force.
Saturday's schedule
Michigan State vs. Central Maine Community College 2:15pm (CST)
Air Force Academy vs. University of Missouri 5:15pm (CST)
