Saint Louis, Missouri (3/11/24): Day 5 of the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Championships features the Semifinals for Men's Divisions 1 & 3. Men's Division 2 starts the first day of Pool Play and Women's Division 2 has their practice day.
Men's Division 1
Semifinal #1: #2 Adrian College over #8 Ohio University, 3-1
Ohio came into the game having pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament, having knocked off the defending champion, Minot State University. The Bobcats were now trying to take out both the #1 and #2 seeds. Adrian came out fast and tried to jump on Ohio which had won their game in overtime the night before. The Bulldogs broke through at the 12:21 mark of the 1st period with a goal from Justin Jamer, his second of the tournament. Ohio was able get the game tied early in the 2nd when Luc Reeve had his third of the Nationals to put the game at 1-1 AC scores what would be the game winner just under three minutes in the 3rd and added an empty net goal which 45 seconds left.
Adrian College will now play in their 2nd consecutive National Championship game, and are looking for their third title in program history on Tuesday at 8:00pm (CST)
Semifinal #2 University of Nevada-Las Vegas over University of Central Oklahoma, 6-4
The second game of then night saw lots of offense from both teams. UNLV hit the back of the net twice in the first period and were looking at a 2-0 lead going into the locker room, when the Bronchos were able to get one past the Rebels netminder with 34 seconds to go in the period. When the two teams hit the ice for the middle frame, it played out very similar to the previous period. The Rebels scored twice throughout the period, with Central Oklahoma getting a late goal to stay alive in the game. The last period was back and forth as every time UCO got within a single goal, UNLV would push it back out to two. The final nail in the coffin was when Nevada-LV got an empty netter with 1:17 left in the game and kept the Bronchos off the board for the final moments.
University of Nevada-Las Vegas will now play in their first National Championship in program history at 8pm (CST) Tuesday.
Men's Division 3
Semifinal #1: Grand Valley State University over Calvin University, 3-2
A MCHC rivalry transported itself to Centene for the first Nationals Semifinal. Both teams seemed to be play pretty passive during the first 20 minutes, with neither team wanting to make any mistakes or give up a big play. That resulted in a 0-0 score after the first period. The teams started to open the game in the second and some goals started to come. The Lakers took the lead 11 minutes into the period on a rebound. Calvin continued to have issues getting consistent pressure in the offensive zone, but got some luck when the GVSU goalie lost a race for the puck and Calvin was able to score on an open net. The last period had both teams taking chances to try find a way to break the tie. Grand Valley retook the lead just over 3 minutes in the final frame. Calvin pounded the net looking for the equalizer and finally broke through just over five minutes remaining to tie the score. Everyone in the stands was preparing to see the game go into overtime, but with 1:12 left in regulation, Grand Valley was able to snap a shot behind the netminder for the Knights and the Lakers had the lead. GVSU then held on for the last 72 seconds the punched their ticket to the National Championship on Tuesday night at 4:00pm.
Grand Valley State University will be playing in their second National Championship Game and looking for the first title in program history.
Semifinal #2: Lawrence Tech over University of Missouri, 3-2
With Grand Valley waiting in the wings, both LTU and Mizzou went back and forth for 60 minutes for the right to play for the Cup. The Blue Devils were able to put pressure on the Tigers right out of the gate by scoring five minutes into the game. After getting outshot 20-8 in the first, Mizzou was able to flip the script and led in shots 15-9 and Mason Budde got his first of two goals on the day to tie the game. The final period had Lawrence Tech score twice in 1:17 to seemingly ice the game. However, Mizzou got it back to 4-3 just two minutes later. However, that is as close of the Tigers would get, and LTU moved on to face over with MCHC rival Grand Valley State in the M3 National Championship Game at 4pm (CST) on Tuesday.
Lawrence Tech will be playing in its first National Championship Game.
Men's Division 2
Pool A
Game 1 Keene State College over Concordia University of Wisconsin 5-4 (OT)
For KSC, this was return to the Nationals five years in the making. The last time the Owls got to the Championships was the year it was cancelled due to Covid. For Concordia, they returned for the second year in a row. CUW looked like the seasoned team, scoring the four of the first five goals in the matchup. Down 4-1 with twenty minutes left in regulation, Keene started to chip away, getting it to 4-2 under a minute into the 3rd, then another 4:33 into the period. The tying score came on the power play with just under five minutes remaining. The comeback was completed in overtime, when the 4th unanswered goal for the Owls gave them a huge victory, and for the Wildcats, a crushing defeat.
Game 2: Miami University over Montana State University, 3-0
This game was a defensive struggle as neither team were able to get 10 shots in a given period. The issue for the Bobcats that they were not to capitalize on any of the chances they did got, while the Redhawks found a way to get three goals by the MSU goalie. With a goal in each period, Miami was able to build out a lead that Montana State could not match. Noah Kinsinger stopped all 24 shots that he saw in this game.
Tuesday Schedule
Keene State College vs. Miami University at 2:15pm (CST)
Concordia University of Wisconsin vs. Montana State University at 5:15pm (CST)
Pool B
Game 1: Indiana University over Weber State University, 4-2
Last year, Indiana won their Pool and lost to the University of Iowa in a double OT thriller. The Hoosiers return to the Nationals trying to recreate 2023. Weber State returns to the Nationals after a decade absence. IU jumped out first, scoring a power play goal to take a 1-0 lead at the halfway mark. The Wildcats got their scoring going late in the period, tying the game at 1-1 with two and a half minutes left, and then took the lead with just over a minute to go. Indiana started the 2nd out like they started the previous period scoring the power play to retie the game at 2-2. This time, however, they did not give Weber State a chance to score late, instead pushing their lead out to 3-1 before the second horn blew. Neither team was able to score in the final frame until IU scored on the empty net with 16 seconds left in the contest.
Game 2: Michigan State University over Northeastern University 3-2 (OT)
The Spartans and Huskies had a hard-fought battle in the final game of the day. Each team was able to score in the first period to go into the break tied at 1-1. MSU converted on a power play goal just over 6 minutes into the 2nd and finished up the period with 2-1 lead. Northeastern finally found a way to tie it as Shane Coen scored to make the game 2-2. The third overtime of the day went deep into the extra period and was looking like it could also be a second tie of Day 1. However, Kyle Lucia sent the Michigan State fans home happy as with 3:26 left in the OT period, as he put it home and Michigan State got the two points to tie them for the Pool lead at the end of the night.
Tuesday Schedule
Michigan State University will face Weber State University at 1:15pm (CST)
Indiana University will face Northeastern University at 4:15(CST)
Pool C
Game 1: Liberty University over University of Providence, 4-3
The common theory is that teams like Providence, who went through the Regionals, have an advantage over auto bid teams early in the first game of Pool Play. That theory held weight in this game in terms of the score, which the Argonauts led 2-1, however the Flames spent most of the first period on the attack and finished with a 25-7 shot lead after 20. Providence came out in the second and jumped to a two-goal lead just 14 seconds into the period. The Argos were able to play a more offensive period closing the shot gap to 16-11 in the middle frame. The 3rd period was owned by LU, as they scored three times in 10 minutes to take the lead, on the strength of 27-9 shot total. The game winning goal was scored with 5:01 left.
Game 2: Lindenwood over Army 8-5
Lindenwood comes trying to avenge a disappointing showing in the 2023 Tournament where they were eliminated before their second game. The game did not start well for the Lions as the Black Knights scored just 24 seconds into the 1st period. The next time Army scored Lindenwood had buried six goals to have a commanding lead at 6-1. West Point was able to cut the lead to 6-3, however the momentum was lost when LU got their seventh goal just two seconds left in the middle period. The third period saw Army with two goals and the Lions got one as well.
Tuesday's Schedule
Army will face Liberty University at 12:00pm (CST)
University of Providence will face Lindenwood University at 7:15pm (CST).
Pool D
Game 1 University of New Hampshire ties University of Saint Thomas, 4-4
The first game of the Nationals for M2 was a wild affair that the saw teams go on goal streaks for the first 40 minutes and then the offense drying up for the last 40 minutes. New Hampshire came out flying, scoring at 2:18, 5:22 & 6:44 to stun the Tommies, which found themselves down 3-0. In the second period, it was UST's turn to blitz the scoresheet. When the horn for the 2nd period ending sounded, the game was suddenly tied at 3-3. St. Thomas took their first lead of the game early in the 3rd period, on their fourth unanswered goal. The lead was short lived as UNH knotted it back up at 4-4 a couple of minutes later. After that neither team was able to find a tally for the rest of regulation and OT. Both teams skated off with a point in their pool.
Game 2: Florida Gulf Coast University over Metro State University-Denver, 3-0
MSU-Denver arrived at their first Nationals and drew multiple National Championship Champion. FGCU. The Eagles scored just 19 seconds into the game to take a 1-0 lead in the first break. FGCU extends the leads to 2-0 early in the 2nd period and a power play goal in the 3rd. Florida Gulf Coast outshot the Roadrunners 35-23.
Tuesday's Schedule
Metropolitan State University-Denver will face University of Saint Thomas at 11:15am (CST)
University of New Hampshire will face Florida Gulf Coast University at 8:15pm (CST) on Tuesday
