ALBANY, N.Y. Brian Rolston scored with 4:52 left Saturday tobreak a 3-3 tie, then Jay Ness added an empty-net goal as LakeSuperior State defeated Wisconsin 5-3 and won its second NCAADivision I hockey title in five years.
The Soo Lakers (30-9-4) fell behind 2-0 in the first periodagainst the Badgers (27-14-2) before staging a three-goal rally andtaking their first lead early in the third period.
The comeback came against a Wisconsin team that had killed allseven Michigan power plays in eliminating the Wolverines 4-2 in thesemifinals. But the Badgers gave Lake Superior State 11 power plays,and that was the difference - despite a spectacular, three-goalperformance by Wisconsin's Jason Zent.
Rolston put the Lakers ahead to stay when he skated from behindthe Badgers' net and flicked a shot past the short side of stargoalie Duane Derksen.
Wisconsin, which was after its sixth national title, pulledDerksen in the final minute. But Ness ensured the Lakers of theirsecond national championship when he scored into the empty net withtwo seconds left to set off a wild celebration on the ice.
Trailing 2-0 after the first 20 minutes, Lake Superior dominatedthe second period by outshooting the Badgers 18-5 and tying the game.
Only a shot by Wayne Strachan that hit the crossbar with 6:01left in the period kept the Lakers from taking the lead.
Defenseman Michael Smith gave Lake Superior its first lead ofthe game 4:16 into the third period by blasting a hard shot pastDerksen from the left circle on a power play.
But the Badgers tied the score at 8:24 on a power-play goal byZent, who converted a 2-on-1 break with Dan Plante.
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий