Umass Hockey survives the fight against Minnesota with 5-4 overtime victory-massusetts Daily Collegian

Fargo, nd in a minnesota-dominant sea of ​​chestnut brown and gold in Scheels Arena, the Hockey team of Massachusetts fought back its way from a 3-1 deficit on the way to the third period and came at the top 5-4, 5-4, in the extension on Thursday evening.

Almost six minutes after the extension of sealed Aydar Suniev Het Gophers (25-11-4) season away and extended the Umass (21-13-5) NCAA Tournament Run. This is the first time in three runs (2021-22, 2023-24 and 2024-25) that the minute people survived in the first round of the NCAA play-offs.

I kept telling myself [that] It is our turn to win our turn, said head coach Greg Carvel. You could just feel it. I didn't have to say much in the course of time. They are crazy little things [that] Determine the game, but we owed. We have lost from BU in the extension [on March 15]We lost to Denver in the extension last year; And this week I did a lot with the team ready for overtime and it has paid off.

Linemate Dans Locmelis knew the way to reverse the puck just after Minnesota brought its way through the neutral zone. Skating of Gopher -goalkeeper Liam Soulieres from right to left, Locmelis threw the puck down to the net to hit Sunievs stick. The second-year attacker had a wide open net on the right side of Soulieres and kept the Minutemens season alive.

This was Suniev's second goal of the night, his first came in the third period when Umass needed a momentum booster. He gave the Amherst Pack Life, brought the score 3-2 and lifted the Minutemens spirits.

Before Jimmy Snuggudaud was aware of his second of the evening, who pushed the 4-4 Bond and Umass and Minnesota match into the extension, Francesco Dellelce released hope for the minute tiles.

Ryan Lautenbach and Kenny Connors smuggled the puck away from the shelves with less than five minutes of the third period. Connors sent it to Dellelce who was wide open for the blue line on Soulieres on the right. The first-year person skated forward and sent the Puck to the goalkeeper of Minnesota and set up Umass 4-3.

We have been a team of the third period throughout the year, Dellelce said. I think that's one of our strengths. So we have the right mindset, regardless of the score, would come out and play our brand hockey and we succeeded tonight.

On Thursday evening, nine-goal game did not seem to score high on the way to the third. After Umass came out with intensity in the first period, the Gophers quickly adapt and changed the cards to their advantage.

From behind the net on goalkeeper Michael Hrabals at the end of the second period, Jimmy Clark got the Puck from Matthew Wood. After he was deflowered by Defenseman Owen Murrays Stick, Connor Kurth slid up to meet the Puck halfway. For the Net, Kurth forced the second -year goalkeeper to slide to the left, leaving the Gopher an open gorge to set up his team with two.

I liked our game plan, but we had just been, said Carvel. The last thing I told them was the game plan, but it is all that is really important that we spent far too much time breaking down video and let the children continue to go on when everything is [who] want to[s] The puck more than the other man.

During the season, the minutemen found the most success on smaller sheets to guide their intense, physical playing style. Although Minnesota had a lead over Umass for the first two periods, neither teams withdrew from the battle, even after he had delayed two hours after West -Michigan and Minnesota went into a double extension.

In the first period, both teams found their first goal in the middle of three whistles to send two minutes and one GoPher to the penalty box.

Bo Cosman was first called to interference and helped Minnesota Swingmomentum in his favor. Before alternative captain Lucas Mercuri added to the second -year student with 1:17 left to Cosmans penalty, the Gophers fought hard for goalkeeper Michael Hrabal without activating the sound of the buzzer.

As soon as Mercuri took his crocheting penalty, so that Minnesota was set up by two men, it was a clear shot for the Gophers to open the nights. Even when Wood skated his way in the box to stumble, it was not long before Snuggeruded Minnesota gave a 1-0 lead. From the circle on Hrabals on the right, snugged the Puck from Sam Rinzel and sent a one-timer between the goal post and the head of the second-year students.

Larry Keenan answered only 20 seconds later to put Umass on the board and bind the game.

From the opposite end of the ice, Lautenbach sprinted through the neutral zone and passed it to Keenan who also crossed to the attacking zone. He slid through the circle on Soulieres on the right and sent the puck behind him.

Umass remains in Fargo, ND to be confronted against Western Michigan on Saturday 29 March to determine which team will be sent to the Frozen Four. Puck Drop is set at 5:30 pm (6.30 pm EST) in Scheels Arena and the game can be viewed on ESPN+.

The thing about coaching is [with] These children, if you keep saying things enough, they believe it, Carvel said. That was important that we had a mentality and I am just happy that it has paid off.

Sydney Ciano can be reached at [email protected] And followed on Twitter/x @Sydneyciano.