Ryan Sandelin (#14) celebrates after scoring in OT
Loveland, Colo. --- A goal by
Ryan Sandelin in overtime gave Minnesota State a 4-3 come-from-behind win over Quinnipiac in NCAA Division I men's hockey West Regional action Saturday in Loveland, Colo.
The Mavericks, who entered today's action as the #2 seed at the four-team regional, trailed 2-0 after the first 20 minutes of action as the #4 Bobcats got even-strength goals from
Odeen Tufto at the 3-minute mark and another from
Peter DiLiberatore at 15:36.
Minnesota State got back into the game in the second period, outshooting Quinnipiac 14-5 and pulling within one at 18:09 when
Jake Jaremko deflected
Julian Napravnik's shot from the far wall past Keith Petruzzelli.
After the Mavericks successfully killed off a five-on-three Quinnipiac power play early in the third, the Bobcats extended their lead to 3-1 on a goal by defenseman
C.J. McGee at 8:54. Sophomore center
Nathan Smith's sixth goal of the year, which came on a shot from 40-feet away and wound its way through a couple of pairs of legs, allowing the Mavericks cut the deficit to one. Then, with
Dryden McKay on the bench for an extra attacker, freshman defenseman
Jake Livingstone, who had lugged the puck all the way down into Quinnipiac's corner, fed a pass to
Cade Borchardt and the sophomore forward ripped a shot past Petruzzelli at 18:58 to send the game into overtime.
Sophomore forward
Brendan Furry created a scramble in front of the Quinnipiac net when he curled into the slot and fired a shot that the Bobcats' goaltender was able to stop, but unable to control. A wild scramble ensued before Sandelin collected the puck at the side of the crease and put into the net for the game-winning tally. The goal is Sandelin's sixth of the year.
Minnesota State, which owned a 38-30 advantage in shots on goal in the game, was scoreless in two power play chances, but held the Bobcats to a zero-for-three performance in their power play chances.
McKay, a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award and the Richter Award, stopped 27 shots and ups his record on the season to 20-3-0 with tonight's victory.
The win, Minnesota State's first in seven NCAA DI postseason tournament appearances, gives the Mavericks a 21-4-1 record on the year. The Mavericks will face the winner between Minnesota and Omaha tomorrow night in the regional championship game.
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