Miami moves on to NCAA title game

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Bemidji State Beavers came into Thursday’s game against Miami (Ohio) as college hockey’s Cinderella team. Unfortunately for BSU, someone didn’t tell the Redhawks as Miami defeated the Beavers 4-1 to advance to Saturday nights title game against the Boston University Terriers. BU defeated the University of Vermont Catamounts in the Frozen Four’s other semi-final.

Miami scored three goals in a six minute, 50-second span in the second period to win the game The victory marks the RedHawks first NCAA Championship game in school history in any sport. The RedHawks, who own the nation’s best combined record since the 2005-06 season and have made four straight NCAA Tournament appearances. Bemidji State, who won the Midwest regional two weeks ago with wins over Notre Dame and Cornell, ends its season with a 20-16-1 record. Bemidji State’s speed was negated by an aggressive Miami University forecheck and the Beavers were never able to get into a high-tempo game it wanted to play. After an even first period, Miami University dominated the game physically wearing down the smaller Bemidji State team with a 25-13 shot advantage in the final two stanzas, including a 15-7advantage in the final period. The RedHawks got on the board early in the second period with a power-play tally by Tommy Wingels at the 3:56 mark. BSU’s Ian Lowe was sent off at the 2:22 mark. Miami University worked it around on the power play, before Wingels blast from outside the left circle beat BSU goalie Matt Dalton short side for his ninth goal of the season. Miami extended the lead to 2-0 at the 8:35 mark when Alden Hirschfeld scored his fifth goal of the season. Carter Camper picked up the puck in the defensive zone, sent it across to Wingels on the left wing and side found Hirschfeld in the slot, who put the puck into the back of the net The Beavers answered 1:11 later when Matt Read scored his 14th goal of the season cutting the lead to 2-1. With Andy Miele in the box at the 9:26 mark. Francis wristed a shot past Miami goaltender Cody Reichard from just outside the crease. Bill Loupee scored his third goal of the season when Loupee took a shot that bounced off Dalton, and the rebound went back to Loupee, who put in his own rebound into the right side of the net. The only goal of the third period when Bemidji State Head Coach Tom Serratore pulled Dalton with about 2:30 to play, but Wingels took a hit near center ice and fired the puck into the empty-net for his second goal of the game. Miami went 1-of-2 on the power play and outshot the Beavers, 37-25. Dalton made 33 saves for the Beavers, while Reichard stopped 24 shots for Miami. The Beavers were 1-of-4 on the power play. Bemidji State won 35-of-62 face-offs. Serratore spoke after the game about Miami and his teams accomplishments after the game. “You know what, we got beat by a better team tonight. Miami was — they were strong. They were quick. They reacted well. Every facet of their game was very good, and we couldn’t get on track.””Hats off to Miami, we had a nice run. Thank you everybody in here. A lot of kind words the last couple of weeks. And Bemidji State University really appreciates it.” Bemidji’s Cody Bostock noticed the crowd at the Verizon Center appeared to cheer the teams Cinderella story. “A lot of people were pulling for us, we knew that going into the game. It’s a feel-good story for a lot of people out there. “It’s something special to be a part of. You want to thank everyone out there. Unfortunately, tonight we came up on the wrong end, but it’s been a good run. The time of a lifetime. Something I’ll never forget. I’m real proud of our guys and I’m real proud to be a Bemidji State University hockey player.” Miami’s Enrico Blasi showed his respect for Bemidji and his team after the game. “I thought it was a pretty good game. Obviously, we got some bounces there in the second period, and we knew Bemidji was going to be tough in the way they play, real aggressive style. I thought our guys did a pretty good job of adapting to that and really trying to turn it on them in transition. I thought we did a pretty good job. My congratulations go to Tom Serratore and Bemidji for a great run, and I thought it was a well-played game.” Miami’s Tommy Wingels knew the importance of getting the first goal of the game. “Obviously the first shift after a goal is most important. I thought we came out, got back to our game, chipped pucks deep. I thought we were physical the whole game. After a goal that’s one of the things you need to do. And Bill came back with a goal shortly after, and it’s a big boost to the team.” Senior Bill Loupee spoke afterwards about the meaning of the meaning of being in the title game.” “Being one of the seniors, I can tell you that losing in the finals of the regional the last two years, it’s actually been good preparation for right now, because, I mean, it means a lot but you can’t go into these games nervous. You can’t go in uptight.” “I think we’ve been able to accomplish that through that experience as well as who would ever have thought that losing to Northern in the second round of the CCHA playoffs would have been a good thing for our team.””I mean, it’s really helped us experience what the loss and the season end would mean and now we know what we’re trying to avoid and we’re playing for something huge now and it’s great.” And now, a date with boston University in the title game. If your going to be the best, you might as well beat the best they always say. Now, on Saturday night, we get the chance to find out just who is the best in college hockey. Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com