Photo: NCAA
The #1 overall seed and top-ranked University of Denver Pioneers roared out to a 5-0 lead on #19th ranked and #16 seeded Michigan Tech University in the first 25 minutes of the game, and then held off the Huskies’ two goal second period run to win the NCAA Midwest Regional quarterfinal, 5-2 at US Bank Arena in Cincinnati. Sophomore forward Colin Staub led the Pioneers with the first two goals, and junior goalie Tanner Jaillet turned away 16 MTU shots to record the victory.
The Pioneers advance to face #9 overall seeded Big Ten Tournament Champion Penn State, as the Nittany Lions were 10-3 victors over Union College in the other Midwest Regional quarterfinal. DU and Penn State will face off on Sunday, March 26th at 4 pm (MT) on ESPNU, for the Midwest Regional Championship and a berth in the NCAA Frozen Four.
“It was a great start by our group,” DU coach Jim Montgomery said after the game. “You could tell, led by our seniors and juniors that we’ve been here [NCAA Regionals] before. We were very aggressive to start the game.”
Indeed, The Pioneers’ red-hot start overwhelmed the WCHA Champion Huskies, as DU fired 17 first period shots to only 5 for MTU, and the five unanswered DU goals scored were more than enough to win the game early. Staub’s two first period goals set the tone for the game in the first 12 minutes, and Senior Emil Romig scored the eventual game winner after a misplay by Michigan Tech goalie Angus Redmond to send the Pioneers up, 3-0 at 14:51. Freshman Tyson McLellan put the Pios up 5-0 at 4:26 of the second period, and the rout was on..
Michigan Tech scored twice late in the second period to cut Denver’s lead to three on goals by Gavin Gould and Jake Lucchini, but the Huskies would get no closer, as the Pioneers managed the puck well for the last period to close out the victory.
Denver has never played Penn State before, as the Nittany Lions are only in year five as a varsity program, but PSU figures to be a formidable obstacle for the Pioneers in the regional final. The 10 goals PSU scored against Union was a school record, and the most goals scored in an NCAA tournament game since 1990. However, Penn State hasn’t faced the nation’s top defense before, and that is the Pioneers.
Game time is 4 pm Sunday (ESPNU).
1 down, 3 to go.
The first 30 minutes were terrific. DU put on a clinic and was cruising. After that it was less than impressive, but the Pios got the W and move on.
What????? They didn’t come back from a 2-0 deficit. That is how they would have 5 “unanswered”…it didn’t go that way…
You are technically correct. While MTU did score two later goals, the last DU goal was “answered”, Therefore, I changed the headline to 5 ‘consecutive’ goals, rather than ‘unanswered’. That said, the net effect was the same – DU kept scoring goal after goal, and won the game.
1 down, 3 to go.
The first 30 minutes were terrific. DU put on a clinic and was cruising. After that it was less than impressive, but the Pios got the W and move on.
What????? They didn’t come back from a 2-0 deficit. That is how they would have 5 “unanswered”…it didn’t go that way…
You are technically correct. While MTU did score two later goals, the last DU goal was “answered”, Therefore, I changed the headline to 5 ‘consecutive’ goals, rather than ‘unanswered’. That said, the net effect was the same – DU kept scoring goal after goal, and won the game.