Saint Louis, Missouri (3/13/24): Day 7 of the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Championships sees the Women's Division 1 tournament kick off, Day 2 of Women's Division 2 Pool Play, and we find out who is joining Miami University in the Men's Division 2 Semifinals.
Women's Division 1
Game 1: #6 McKendree University over #7 University of Michigan-Dearborn, 1-0
When the Bearcats scored a power play goal 11:21 into the first period, little did they know it would be the only goal that would be scored. The two teams combined for 54 shots but both goalies stood tall and kept the rubber out of the net. Jayna Barden had the lone tally in the game, assisted by Kerstyn Barron. Wolverines netminder, Kenna Borso stopped 36 of 37 in the losing effort, with Rachel Staresinic stopping all 17 shots she saw. With the win, McKendree gets a bye to Day 3, while UM-D will play in an elimination game on Thursday against #9 University of Michigan at 10:00am (CST)
Game 2: #8 Indiana Tech over #6 Maryville University, 4-2
The second game of the Nationals started out slow, as the Warriors and Saints tried to gain the advantage. The period was also slowed by three penalties, the only three penalties in the game. The scoring got going in the about halfway through the 2nd, when Hailey Hudder found the back of the net to give IT a 1-0 lead. They backed that up with another goal two minutes later to make it 2-0. Indiana Tech continued their offense push with Allison Greene's second goal of the day. The just over five minutes left Maryville pulled their goalie for the rest of the game. It resulted in the two goals for the Saints, however Indiana Tech also scored and kept Maryville from getting any closer. Tech will get a bye to Day 3 and MU will play tomorrow vs. #10 Arizona State University at 1:00pm (CST)
Game 3: #4 Minot State University over #9 University of Michigan, 3-2 (OT)
On paper, this game should have a fairly easy win for Minot State. The game even started out in the Beavers favor with Aspen Cooper opening the scoring 6:23 into the game. The Wolverines were able to fight back with a goal of their own at the 15:35 mark of the 1st period. Even though the game was tied after 20 minutes MSU had to feel good about the fact they were outshooting UM 11-6. However, the tension in the rink shot up when with 12:50 left in the 2nd period, Lucy Hanson scored on a power play to give Michigan a 2-1 lead. Suddenly, losing the Day 2 bye was looking more and more likely as the 2nd period wound down and then even more as time melted away on the clock during the 3rd. Finally, with the goalie pulled and Minot in full desperation, Makena Welby let a shot go that found the back of the net with one second left on the clock. The Beavers suddenly had life as they headed to overtime. Neither team could seem to get the upper hand with Michigan having the most shots of any period in OT, and Minot firing the most rubber since the first period at the Wolverine netminder. Then, with 4:27 left in the first OT period, the hero of regulation, Welby, had the puck on her stick again, and like before, she did not miss. Minot survived and will get a bye to Day three while University of Michigan will prepare to face University of Michigan-Dearborn at 10:00am (CST)
Game 4 #3 Adrian College over #10 Arizona State University, 5-0
In the final game of Day 1 of the Women's Division 1 Nationals, Adrian looked to punch their ticket to Friday's quarterfinals against ASU. The first period was tight as both teams were making sure to avoid a costly mistake. The game began to loosen when the Bulldogs got a power play goal from Tess McKerrow to take a 1-0 lead. They expanded that lead to 2-0 when Makenzie Villiard scored with less than a minute to go in the 2nd period. AC continued to dominate on the offensive side of the puck with two goals in 16 seconds midway through the final period. A power play goal from Sydney White, late in the 3rd, completed the scoring for the game. Chloe Burt, the Adrian College, recorded a shutout, turning back every shot she faced. Adrian will head to the quarterfinals on Friday while Arizona State will face #6 Maryville University in an elimination game on Thursday at 1:00pm (CST)
Men's Division 2
Pool A
Game 1 Concordia University of Wisconsin over Miami University, 7-6
With Miami clinching a spot in the National Semifinal the day before, the came did not have Pool implications, however CUW was looking to finish Pool Play on a high note. It was a track meet in the first period with five goals in the period with the Redhawks taking the lead into the first intermission. The scoring explosion continued into the middle frame, this time with the Falcons getting the trio of scores and Miami with two. The final 20 minutes saw Miami take the lead in the first half of the period before Concordia scored two goals in the span of one minute to take the lead for good. CUW finishes Pool Play with a 1-2-0 record, Miami 2-1-0. Miami will take on Florida Gulf Coast University in the second National Semifinal game at 8:00pm (CST)
Game 2: Montana State University over Keene State College, 4-3
While neither team could advance but both squads wanted to finish their season with a win. After a quiet first period, the scoring picked up in the second. The Bobcats scored twice, both by Hayden Klem, his 2nd and 3rd of the tournament. Between the two MSU goals the Owls found the back of the net to keep within one. The final frame saw the teams continue the back-and-forth nature of the goals as both teams scored twice, three of which were on the power play. Montana State finishes Pool Play 2-1-0 while KSC end up 1-2-0.
Pool B
Game 1: Indiana University over Michigan State University, 7-3
Michigan State came into the game looking to get a win to punch their ticket to the National Semifinals. A win by Indiana opened up a chance for the Hoosiers and possibly the Northeastern to grab the semifinal spot for Pool B. The Spartans and IU had mirror images the first two periods with MSU getting two goals to Indiana's one in the first. Then in the 2nd period, Indiana was the team with the two goals and Michigan State with the single tally. This set up a huge final 20 minutes of regulation. It was also Ithan DeLorenzo time. After IU took the lead 4-3 at the 3:43 mark of the 3rd, Delorenzo had a natural hat trick with scores at 14:30, 12:24, and 5:34 on the clock. By the time the horn sounded, IU had a huge win at 7-3 to stay alive in the advancement hunt.
Game 2: Weber State University over Northeastern University 2-1 (OT)
After Indiana's win earlier in the day, Northeastern had the ability to clinch a semifinal spot with a win over the Weber State. The Huskies got the lead just 17 seconds into the contest and held that lead until the Wildcats were able to score at the 15:27 mark of the 2nd period. The game remained tied for the rest of regulation. As the game moved into deeper into overtime, the question started to become when Northeastern would pull the goalie, since a tie would eliminate them. That choice never came because Jacobi Clark scored for WSU and ended the game. This loss eliminated Northeastern and allowed Indiana to advance to the semifinals.
Pool C
Game 1: Army over University of Providence, 5-4 (OT)
While this game had not advancement chances for the teams, it was an opportunity to end the season on a high note with a Tournament win. The 1st Period seemed to be defense optional, with teams exchanging goals back and forth to finish the period tied at 3-3. Both teams picked up the defensive zone, and only one goal per team in the middle frame. The last period of regulation, neither team was not able to find a way onto the scoreboard so off to OT they went. Both teams had several opportunities to score but to no avail, until Bobby Staring got his third goal of the tournament and gave Army got their first National Tournament win. Army finishes the Pool Play 1-2-0, and the Argonauts finish 0-3-0.
Game 2: Lindenwood University over Liberty University, 4-3 (OT)
When the pools were announced, this game was circled as potentially the game of the week. It lived up to its billing with both teams scoring big time goals, including a highlight reel tally. Liberty took the lead twice in the first period, at 1-0 and 2-1, when they scored with five seconds left in the period. The second belonged to the Lions with Lindenwood scoring twice in the period to take the lead going into the final 20 minutes. Liberty was able to find the back of the net early in the 3rd period to tie it and then both teams locked down defensively, and just like that, the horn sounded, and they headed to overtime. Before some people had even gotten back to their seats Brett Robinson got his second goal of the tournament on a pass from Stanley Lucas and with just 27 seconds off the clock, Lindenwood was back in the National Semifinals. The Lions will play Indiana University in the first semifinal at 5:00pm (CST)
Pool D
Game 1: University of New Hampshire over Metropolitan State University-Denver, 4-1
While neither of these teams were still in the hunt for a semifinal, they both wanted to end their season on a high note. New Hampshire came out fast and jumped on MSU-Denver early, scoring a goal 2:43 into the game and then doubling their lead with a goal midway through the period. The Roadrunners were able to get their legs under them and neither team found the back of the net for the rest of the 1st and all of the 2nd Period. UNH continued to build their lead with a shorthanded goalie with 15:26 on the clock and another at the 11:21 mark of the 3rd. MSUD got their lone goal with just under five minutes left to go in the game. For the Wildcats, they ended Pool Play at 1-1-1 and Metro State at 0-3-0.
Game 2: Florida Gulf Coast University over University of Saint Thomas 6-5 (OT)
For FGCU it was simple, win or tie and the Eagles advance. That seemed all the more likely since after 40 minutes of the game, they led Saint Thomas 4-2. However, the Tommies found something in the 3rd period and scored three times to tie the game at 5-5 at the end of regulation. UST had several chances to score in the extra frame and grab the semifinal spot out the Pool, even outshooting FGCU 7-4. But, with 4:02 left in OT, Shayne Tomlinson was able to hit a shot that made it by the Saint Thomas goalie and sent the Eagles back to the semifinals after falling short last season. UST finishes Pool Play with a 1-1-1 record. Florida Gulf Coast will now square off with the Pool A Winner, Miami University, on Thursday in the second National Semifinal at 8:00 (CST).
Women's Division 2
Pool A
Game 1: University of Providence over University of Saint Thomas, 4-3 (OT)
Providence Forward Meghan Gambino had the game of the tournament so far, as she scored all four goals for the Friars, including the overtime winner. The game was a back-and-forth affair, with five lead changes. PC jumped out first with a goal just 23 seconds into the contest. UST was able tie it midway through the 1st and took the lead early in the 2nd. The two teams traded goals during the rest of the middle frame. Down 3-2, Providence tied it up with 14:42 on the clock. As the overtime clock went below 1:00, it was starting to look like it was going to be the third straight game that went to tie. Then the Tommies goalie misplayed a puck and after a net front scramble, Gambino got her 5th goal of the tournament and the Friars remained perfect in the Pool.
Game 2: Liberty University over University of Delaware 4-3 (OT)
Liberty knew they had to win to stay alive for Day 3. They knew University of Delaware well, because they had played several times throughout the season. What they didn't know was how streaky the game was going to be. After giving up a score about halfway through the 2nd period, the Blue Hens were able to take the lead on back-to-back power play goals to carry a 2-1 lead into the break. A third unanswered goal just 17 seconds into the 3rd, it appears like the Flames might be unable to score enough to get back in the game. LU started to chip away at the lead with a goal at the 12:32 mark followed by the tying score with just under three minutes to go in the contest. In overtime, the goal that sent everyone home and kept the Flames alive in the race to clinch a semifinal spot, was scored on a rebound by Isabel Gracia, her first of the tournament.
Thursday's Schedule
University of Delaware will face Providence College at 10:15am (CST)
Liberty University will face University of Saint Thomas at 3:15pm (CST)
Pool B
Game 1: Adrian College over Villanova University, 5-0
Natalie Tolton had a natural hat trick for the Bulldogs and Emily Tracht turned away all 20 shots she faced as Adrian got huge two points on the second day of action. Tolton's big play started with a first period power play goal less than six minutes into the contest. She got her second just over 4 minutes into the 2nd period and then the third at 9:28 of the middle frame. The Bulldogs chipped in another score on the power play to make it 4-0 going into the second intermission. The final score was achieved with at 13:11 in the 3rd by Mia Nadeau's first goal of the tournament. With the loss, Villanova was eliminated from advancing out of the Pool.
Game 2: Dakota College over Assumption University, 5-4
Dakota came in with a chance to advance to the semifinals with a win. Assumption was looking for the huge win to get them a chance to advance. The Lumberjacks jumped out to two goal lead with scores just a minute apart from each other. The Greyhounds found the back of the net to cut the lead to 2-1, but DCB scored a power play goal at the buzzer. The refs conferenced and ruled it a good goal. AU was the only team to get on the scoreboard in the 2nd, with a power play goal five minutes in to get the score to 3-2 after 40 minutes. The tension ramped up even higher when Assumption found the back of the net on another power play and the game was now tied at 3-3. Dakota rebounded with back-to-back goals of their own to get the lead back out to 5-3. The Greyhounds had one more burst as they scored with two minutes left to get back within one goal, but the Lumberjacks held on to win the game and the Pool. Assumption, with the loss, was eliminated from semifinal contention.
Thursday's Schedule
Dakota College will face Villanova University at 1:15pm (CST)
Assumption University will face Adrian College at 6:15pm (CST)
Pool C
Game 1: Assiniboine Community College over Boston College, 5-2
After the tie last night, BC need to win or tie to stay alive in the push to advance out of the Pool. The Eagles played the perfect game for the first 15 minutes against the Cougars, getting shots on net, keeping ACC from setting up in the zone. Boston College was even able to score to take a 1-0 lead. Assiniboine found their game the final five minutes, tying it at the 16:48 mark of the period, and taking the lead with 11 seconds left. The final 40 minutes belonged to the Cougars as they pounded the BC goalie with 44 shots and scoring three goals, all in the 2nd period. Kyle Emms-Finnsson had two goals on the day for ACC, including a power play goal. Boston College picked up their second goal with under a minute left in the 2nd. Both goalies were able to shut out the teams in the final frame. With the loss, Boston College was eliminated from a chance of advancing out of the Pool.
Game 2: Northern Michigan University over Central Michigan University, 6-2
The battle of the Michigans' was transplanted to a rink in Chesterfield, Missouri as these two rivals squared off. The Wildcats jumped all over the Chippewas early in the game, scoring four straight goals in the 1st and early 2nd periods. Chole Valente had her 2nd and 3rd goals of the tournament in that span. Kylie Del Re helped CMU to get back in the game with her two unanswered goals in the 2nd to make the score 4-2 heading into the final frame. NMU's Paris Wegleitner took it upon herself to get her team to the finish line as she scored on the power play just 33 seconds into the third and then potted an empty netter with 1:55 left in the game to seal the victory for Northern Michigan.
Thursday's Schedule
Central Michigan University will face Assiniboine Community College at 12:45pm (CST)
Northern Michigan University will face Boston College at 5:45pm (CST)
Pool D
Game 1: Sault College over Navy, 4-0
Special teams were the name of game in this matchup as three of the four goals were on the power play and the fourth one was shorthanded. The Cougars jumped on the Naval Academy in the first period scoring three time, with Land, Moore, and Byers all getting their second of the tournament. After the intermission, the Midshipmen stayed out of the box and were able to keep Sault of the board for all of the second period. SC was able to bury their fourth goal early in the final period and the put a cap on the game and a 2-0-0 record in the Pool. Cassidy Dodson recorded a shutout, turning away all 13 shots she faced.
Game 2: Northeastern University over Mercyhurst University, 4-2
Mercyhurst scored the first and last goals of the game. Unfortunately for the Lakers, in between Northeastern had the goal horn play four times for the Huskies. Northeastern's Olivia Toscano got her second goal of the tournament and helped NU to stay alive in the Pool and set up a winner take all game vs. Sault College tomorrow.
Thursday's Schedule
Northeastern University will face Sault College at 3:45pm (CST)
Mercyhurst University will Navy at 8:45pm (CST)
