Saint Louis, Missouri (3/14/24): Day 8 of the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Championships will feature the Men's Division 2 Semifinals, the final day of Pool Play for Women's Division 2 and Women's Division 1 will fill out the rest of the Quarterfinals.
Men's Division 2 National Semifinals
Game 1: Indiana University over Lindenwood University, 3-1
The first National Semifinal game featured the regular season's Central #1 Lindenwood Lions and Southeast #3 Indiana Hoosiers. Like many elimination games, the first period was spent having both teams trying to find weaknesses they could exploit later. LU did have a good shot lead after 20 minutes at 11-5. The scoring got started when a Lindenwood tripping penalty led the Hoosiers getting a power play goal from Jake Rock at the 12:39 mark of the 2nd. Rock's goal was assisted by Aiden Sinoneau and Ithan DeLorenzo. This was Rock's second goal and fourth point of the tournament. IU was able to flip the shot advantage for the period putting up 12 shots to the Lions 7. Lindenwood spent most of the 3rd period trying to get sustained pressure in the IU zone. However, just when it seems that the Lions would break through, Leo Warner shot a puck that seemed to fall out of the air right under the bar to put Indiana up 2-0 with 10:13 left in regulation. The offensive desperation of LU was high for the next eight minutes eventually drawing an interference penalty. With the goalie pulled, the Lions finally got on the board with a goal from Stanley Lucas, his 6th of the Nationals, on assists from Jacob Behnen and Austin Meers. Suddenly, ever pass of the puck was amplified as Lindenwood got it deep into the IU zone and got the goalie back to the bench. However, a tip at the red line led a 2 on 1 for Indiana, and Luke Slaven tossed it into the empty net and sealed the game for the Hoosiers. IU will now await the winner of FGCU and Miami to see who they will play for the National Championship game. For IU, this will be their first National Championship game since 2007.
Game 2: Miami University over Florida Gulf Coast University, 3-2
The second National Semifinal game was much different the one earlier in the day. There was more shots, less penalties, and more back and forth swings in momentum. Miami started out with scoring their first of two power play goals at the 11:58 mark of the 1st period when Gabe Dombrowski was able fire the puck right under the bar, glove side. It was the third goal of the tournament for Dombrowski. FGCU was able to answer with a goal of their own with just over a minute left in the period, with Dylan Castello putting a pass from Dawson Zahorian home to tie the game. For Castello, it was his 2nd goal and 4th point of the Nationals. The middle frame was the only period that the Redhawks outshot the Eagles, 15-11. MU also got the only score of the period when Colin Hartwell got his 4th goal of the week to put Miami up 2-1. Florida Gulf Coast turned up the offensive punch in the 3rd firing 17 shots at the Redhawks netminder. However, Noah Kinsinger continued to turn away each scoring chance. A FGCU holding penalty turned into the eventual game winning goal when with 9:01 left in the game, Andrew Lawrence was able to bang the puck home after several whacks at it on the side of the net for his first goal of the Nationals. The Eagles were able to get back within one, when Adam Beauvais scored with 34 seconds left in the game to make it 3-2. However, Miami was able to pin the puck along the boards for the final seconds and punched their ticket the National Championship game. For Miami, this will be their second Title game in program history. The first one was in 2000 when they beat Indiana University.
Women's Division 1
Game 1: #7 University of Michigan Dearborn over #9 University of Michigan 2-1
The one thing everyone knew, a team called the Wolverines were going to be victorious. The ingrained rivalry between these two teams was on full display as both teams fought to survive for another day. Dearborn dominated the first two minutes as they won the shots battle 13-2 and were able to produce a score from Taylor Spence to go into the locker room up 1-0. Michigan was able to balance the play out in the 2nd, leading in shots 12-11 in the middle frame. However, they were not able to get any pucks past Kenna Borso, the Dearborn goalie. UM finally was able to knot the game at 1-1 when Julia Lindahl was able to hit the back of the net. As time ticked away in the 3rd, OT looked to be looming until with 4:55 left, Andi Evers was able to score on the power play and Dearborn led 2-1. UMD was able to hang for the final minutes and moved on to face Adrian College in the second quarterfinal at 1:00pm (CST) on Friday.
Game 2: #10 Arizona State University vs. #5 Maryville University, 3-2 (OT)
The second game of the W1 doubleheader today was a thriller as it seemed like Maryville had rebounded nicely from their upset loss to Indiana Tech, but ASU was not going to go away easily. The Saints outshot the Sun Devils 13-6 and 20-7, however Maryville only had a two-goal lead from all those shots, from Paige Stelzer in the 1st and Colleen O'Leary in the 2nd. In the final 20 minutes, ASU had a pair of forwards in Tristan Craig and Sam Murphy that would change the course of the game. Craig scored on the power play just 3:33 in the period, on an assist from Murphy, to cut the lead to 2-1. Then just 1:11 later it was Murphy's turn on the power play to hit the back of the net and suddenly the game was tied at 2-2. Both goalies made great saves to keep it tied for the rest of regulation. After an ice cut the teams hit the ice and in the first half of the extra frame each team had six shots on net. For Arizona State, it was the seventh shot that proved to be the deciding factor, as Craig and Murphy combined for to get the overtime winner on the power play from a Saints tripping penalty. With the loss, Maryville was eliminated from the tournament. For Arizona State they move on and will play #1 Liberty University in the final quarterfinal game on Friday at 7:00pm (CST)
Women's Division 2
Pool A
Game 1: University of Providence over University of Delaware, 5-1
The math was simple for this game, Providence wins or ties they advance. If Delaware would win the game, then both teams would be waiting to see what would happen in the Liberty/Saint Thomas game. The Blue Hens jumped out to a 1-0 lead just 25 seconds into the game to put early pressure on the Friars. PC answered back at the 8:04 mark of the 1st, with a power play goal from Taylor Cornell. The first 20 minutes ended with the teams knotted at 1-1. When the 2nd period commenced, Providence enforced their will on Delaware and dominated middle frame, scoring three times, with the third one just 20 seconds left before the intermission. UD fought to the end, but the Friars ended any hope of a comeback with a goal with 13:25 on the clock in the 3rd and clinched a spot in the National Semifinals on Friday at 1pm (CST) vs. Assiniboine Community College.
Game 2: Liberty University over University of Saint Thomas, 2-0
With Providence win earlier in the day, this game no longer held semifinal implications, but both teams played like it did. Both teams going end to end in a fast paced game, but no goals until, with 18 seconds left in the 1st, the Flames were able to take the lead when Cora Williams got her third goal of the tournament. The middle frame saw more shots then the previous period, but neither team could find a way to score. The 3rd had the same offensive drought until Isabel Gracia got her second tally of Pool Play to give LU a 2-0 lead. As the final horn sounded, both teams went to their goalie and then to the handshake line. University of Saint Thomas finished 0-3-0 in the Pool, while Liberty University was 2-1-0
Pool B
Game 1: Villanova University over Dakota College 3-2
The Lumberjacks came into the matchup knowing they would be advancing to the semifinals, while the Wildcats were looking to end their season on a high note with a win. Villanova got the lone goal of the first period as Camryn Browne, her second of the tournament. The team exchanged goals in the 2nd period, including Browne's second goal of the day, this one of the penalty shot variety. The 3rd period saw Dakota College tie the score at the 7:58 mark, but Nova was able to grab the lead for good as Browne completed the hat trick with her fourth goal of the tournament with 2:08 left on the clock. For Villanova, their season ends with a 1-2-0 Pool Play record. For Dakota, they move on to the semifinals vs. Sault College at 3:30pm (CST).
Game 2: Assumption University over Adrian College, 5-2
Even though Dakota College clinched the Pool, due to beating both these teams, this game gave a chance for teams to finished tied for the top of the Pool. Adrian scored first just 1:55 into the contest as Mary Robinson got her first of the tournament. The Greyhounds responded a couple of minutes later on the power play to tie the game and took the lead with 32 seconds left in the period on Carly Duval's second goal of Pool Play. Assumption continued to score with the extra skater as they got another power play goal just 1:09 into the 2nd. The Bulldogs responded to get it to 3-2, when Hannah Berenson found the back of the net at the 6:03 mark of the middle period. AU were able to push it back to two a couple minutes later with a goal by Molly Duvall. The final period only mark on the scoresheet was from Jaqueline Poulack, who recorded her 4th goal of the week. Adrian finishes Pool Play 1-2-0 and Assumption 2-1-0.
Pool C
Game 1: Assiniboine Community College over Central Michigan University, 11-2
ACC hit the ice knowing that their season would have at least one more game this year, having already clinched the Pool. For CMU, it was a chance to get a win to end their season. The Cougars had the early success getting two goals in the first period, the first of the tournament by Kathryn Fischer and the third for Emmalie Thompson. The Chippewas used an Assiniboine checking penalty to get back within one when Kylie Del Re got her third goal of the tournament. Unfortunately for CMU, by the time Del Re would score her fourth goal, the Cougars would have had seven unanswered goals and run away with the game. Even after the Chippewa goal, ACC got a shorthanded tally and Madison Haliuk scored a even strength goal, her second of the period. All told, Assiniboine put up 54 shots in the game to CMU's 11. For Central Michigan, they finish 0-2-1 in Pool Play. ACC finishes a perfect 3-0 and will take on Providence College in the first National Semifinal at 1pm (CST) on Friday.
Game 2: Nothern Michigan University over Boston College, 3-2
In a game that featured the two participants totaling 62 shots, the goalies for both teams were able to stop a tremendous amount of rubber. The only goal that was recorded in the first twenty minutes was from Breanna Bisek, her second of Pool Play. NMU doubled their lead with the only tally in the 2nd period, with this one going to Tyya McKenzie at the 8:55 mark. The final frame saw the game open up a bit when BC's Audrey Koen scored 2:06 into the 3rd and NMU's Chloe Valente answered 10 seconds later with her fourth of the tournament. The Eagles were able to answer halfway through the period with Morgan Bronstein's second goal in three days. But that was the last of the scoring and the Wildcats finished the game out to end their season on a win. Boston College finishes Pool C at 0-2-1 and Northern Michigan at 2-1-0.
Pool D
Game 1: Sault College over Northeastern University, 5-2
The final slot in the semifinals was up for grabs in this matchup. Sault got the started with goals from Emma Lee, her 4th of the Nationals and Jasmine Groleau, her 3rd, within 2 minutes of each other midway through the 1st period. The Huskies were able to respond before the end the 1st with a power play goal from Stella Knight. Most people attending would have anticipated another high-octane period, but the scoreboard only changed once as Lee got her second of the game, on the power play, to take a 3-1 into the last period. The Cougars pushed further ahead early in the 3rd, with a goal 90 seconds in to go up 4-1. Northeastern was able to get back within two at the 4:50 mark of the 3rd, but could get no closer. Groleau picked up her second of the game with the empty netter and put the finishing touches on a perfect Pool play record. Northeastern finishes Pool Play 1-1-1. Sault College will take on Dakota College in the second semifinal game at 3:30pm (CST)
Game 2: Navy over Mercyhurst University, 7-1
This was final game of the three days of Pool Play. For both Navy and Mercyhurst, the goal was to finish the year with a win at the National Tournament. The Lakers were the first to score with a power play goal over five minutes into the game. That lead lasted four minutes as the Midshipmen were able to tie it and then take the lead with two goals in 1:12 midway through the first period. Navy continues to find the back of the net in the 2nd period, as they scored three times to have a 5-1 lead heading into the final period. The last 20 minutes saw Kristina Cornelio of USNA get a hat trick 4:16 in to the 3rd. One more Midshipmen tally and that was it for the 2024 Women's Division 2 National Pool Play. Mercyhurst finished with a 0-3-0 record and Navy was 1-1-1.
