Umass Hockey opposite West -Michigan in the second round of NCAA Tournament – Massachusetts Daily Collegian

The Massachusetts hockey team is preparing to compete against No. 4 Western Michigan in the Fargo regional final on Saturday. The Minutemen (21-13-5) went on Thursday evening in the NCAA tournament with a grouse 5-4 overtime victory against Minnesota.

Down 3-1 In the third period, Umass scored three consecutive goals to take the lead. This is only the second time this season that the minutemen have overcome a shortage of two goals and end with the victory.

We were not very good [the] The first half of the game, said head coach Greg Carvel. [I] The team challenged the second break and they came out and it seemed like Umass Hockey in the third period. [Im] Extremely proud of the boys. It was a huge victory.

The sudden-dare game-winning goal came from a second-year student Aydar Suniev, his second of the night. Sunievs Tally marked both Umass First victory on Minnesota in the History Organization and her first progress to the second round of the tournament since the title-clinching run in 2021.

It means a lot, Suniev said about the victory. We have lost and [it] Was certainly a bit emotional last year, it couldn't get it for our seniors. But this year with Alger, Mercuri, we just want to play for those guys, so that was special.

Western Michigan (31-7-1) achieved a 2-1 victory over the state of Minnesota with a double overtime effort. In the first place, ranked in the nation for attack and for the Ministry of Defense respectively, the two teams fought through a nail biting 87 minutes. Sophomore Grant Slukynsky called Game when he put his stick on a rebound that found himself past the MSU network minder.

It's not how we [drew] It is up, but both ended in victories, and that went to Downin, Slukynsky said about the teams two consecutive overtime matches. Nice support on the right side of both, and [well] Hopefully their company on Saturday.

Slukynskys younger brother, Hampton Slukynsky, manned the net and made 28 saves on 29 shots in the game. Coming from Warroad, Minnesota, the performance of the goalkeepers was his first return to Scheels Arena since his campaign at the Fargo Force last season.

WMU has included four straight performances in the tournament and never came the second round. The Broncos Frozen Four Bid This year came from their first conference title in program history.

With a lower line-up of opponents through the season, WMU has not been tested this year as the minutemen have. On Saturday match, the Broncos places for the first time since their loss of October for Boston College for the Hockey East team. The Eagles were one of the three frozen four teams that WMU played in the regular season, accompanied by defensive champion Denver and no. 2 Michigan State, while UMass saw five tournament teams in conference matchups.

Although the minutemen are confronted with high -level matchups, both teams have kept their own against top rivals. The confidence that every group rallies are the difference maker on Saturday evening.

We often talk about ToughnessSphysical toughness and mental resilience in our dressing room, said WMU head coach Pat Ferschweiler. That is zero frustration, stay with it, believe in what tried to do, believe in yourself and believe in each other, and that is all we had left between the periods.

Both teams have a day to recover from their extra-frame effort before they go on the ice on Saturday evening. The winner of the competition goes to St. Louis for the NCAA and the final and an opportunity to participate in the National Championship.

Puck Drop was set at 6.30 pm on Saturday, March 29 in Scheels Arena such as WMU and Umass -fighting to extend his seasons. ESPNU will broadcast the matchup.

Caroline Burge can be reached at cburge@umass.edu And followed on x @caroline_burge.