Saint Louis, Missouri (3/10/24): Day 4 of the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Championships features the Men's Division 1 Quarterfinals as Men's Division 3 has a day off before the Semifinals tomorrow morning.
Men's Division 1
Game #1: #5 University of Nevada-Las Vegas over #20 University of Pittsburgh, 5-1
Pittsburgh entered the quarterfinals as the lowest remaining seed, but had proven that they could upset any team, after dispatching the #13 University of Arizona and #4 University of Jamestown to make it to the final eight. UNLV was looking to return to the semifinals after getting bounced in the quarterfinals last season. The Panthers got out to a 1-0 lead on a power play goal from Ian Keller. The Rebels responded with goal 2:20 later to make the score 1-1. The second period turned out to be the pivotal period of the game as UNLV scored in the first minute of the period, then backed it up with a shorthanded goal and a power play goal to salt the game away. A fifth goal by Nick Flanders, his second of the day pushed it to the final score.
University of Nevada-Las Vegas will face #3 University of Central Oklahoma in the second semifinal at 8:00pm (CST) on Monday
Game #2: #3 University of Central Oklahoma over #11 Purdue University-Northwest, 3-1
The second quarterfinal of the day featured another upset minded team in PUNW trying to keep knocking off higher seeded teams. Central Oklahoma was looking to return to the semifinals after losing in the quarterfinals to Adrian last season. The Bronchos lit the lamp at the 12:20 mark of the 1st period. That turned out to be the only goal for the next 28 minutes. UCO doubled their lead just one minute into the final frame, and Purdue-NW looked to have run out gas. However, PUNW got on the board just after a Pride power play expired to make the score 2-1. Purdue-NW had several scoring opportunities, but Central Oklahoma was able to secure the win with an empty net goal with 44 seconds left.
University of Central Oklahoma will face #5 University of Nevada-Las Vegas in the second semifinal at 8:00pm (CST) on Monday
Game #3: #2 Adrian College over #7 Liberty University, 4-2
The Bulldogs dominated the game from the opening puck drop, as they used their speed and passing to keep the Flames on the defensive. Adrian scored the only goal of the 1st period on a rebound after the initial save by the Flames netminder. Adrian added the lead with a goal 15 seconds into a Liberty slashing minor. The game spent the rest of the middle frame and the first seven minutes of the 3rd as LU desperately trying to find some way to hit the back of the net. Then suddenly a Bulldog penalty breathed new life into the Flames season when they turned into a score and got it to 2-1. Adrian then got their own power play and got the lead back to two just 1:46 later. Liberty had one last gasp as they snuck one past the Adrian goalie on a power play to make it 3-2. Adrian College sealed the win with empty net goal with 51 seconds left.
Adrian College will face #8 Ohio University in the first semifinal at 4:45pm (CST) on Monday
Game #4: #8 Ohio University over #1 Minot State University, 2-1 (OT)
In one of the best quarterfinal games in recent memory finished out the Day 4 in the Nationals. The defending National Champions found themselves in a defensive battle that pushed both teams to their limit. Ohio got the first goal of the contest at the 12:49 mark of the opening period. The Beavers responded in the 2nd to tie the game at 1 with just over half of regulation left. The third period had MSU firing the puck 15 times, but never solving the Bobcat's goalie. However, OU could not score again either and with the final spot in the Nationals Semifinal on the line, the game went into overtime. Minot continued to pepper the goalie in the extra frame, getting 15 shots in just over 15 minutes, but the only one that hit the back of the net was from Drake Albers of Ohio University to put the Bobcats another step closer to the National Title game.
Ohio University will face #2 Adrian College in the first semifinal at 4:45pm (CST) on Monday
