From Staff Reports
MARYLAND HEIGHTS — An overtime thriller between a pair of in-state rivals was quite the way for the Michigan State Spartans to pick up their first hockey victory in NCAA Tournament action in 16 years.
The Spartans, who earned the Big Ten’s automatic bid into the tourney as well as the No. 1 seed in the Maryland Heights regional, battled the Western Michigan Broncos in the opening round Friday, pulling off the 5-4 win in overtime at the Centene Community Ice Center in St. Charles, Missouri. Friday marked the first-ever meeting between the two schools in NCAA Tournament action.
Michigan State is making its 28th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2012. The victory Friday moves the Spartans to 6-7 as a No. 1 seed in program history. They have previously advanced to the Frozen Four as a No. 1 seed in 1984, 1989 and 2001.
Western Michigan’s Matteo Costantini gave the Broncos the early lead and got the scoring started in the first period. The score remained 1-0 into the second period until Daniel Russell lit the lamp for the Spartans and knotted the score at 1-1. The tie wouldn’t last long, however.
The Broncos took advantage of a Spartan penalty as Alex Bump scored on the power play for a 2-1 lead just five minutes after Russell’s goal. The Spartans tied it 2-2, but two more goals from Western Michigan gave the Broncos a 4-2 lead heading into the final period.
The Spartans kept the pressure on, and team captain Nash Nienhuis cut the Bronco lead in half at the 11:45 mark of the third period to make it 4-3. Michigan State emptied its net with time winding down, and it would be Artyom Levshunov finding Karsen Dorwart for the game-tying goal with 55 seconds left to send it to overtime at 4-4.
Jeremy Davidson made it a cool dozen on the season, scoring in the overtime period for his 12th goal of the year and giving MSU the win.
exciting 5-4 comeback victory.
Michigan State (25-9-3) plays the winner of Michigan and North Dakota at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday. The game between the Wolverines and Fighting Hawks was not complete by press time.
Boston College 6, Michigan Tech 1
Michigan Tech saw its season end Friday as the Huskies lost 6-1 to the No. 1-ranked Boston College Eagles in regional action at the Amica Mutual Pavillon in Providence, Rhode Island.
Max Koskipirtti scored Tech’s lone goal, and Blake Pietila made 32 saves in goal for the Huskies.