St. Cloud State beats Northern Michigan in 2OT
March 26, 2010
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)—Tony Mosey scored on a power play 23 seconds into thesecond overtime to give St. Cloud State a 4-3 victory over Northern Michigan onFriday in the West Regional semifinals, the Huskies’ first NCAA tournamentvictory.
Mosey tipped a pass from Garrett Roe between goalie Brian Stewart’s pads.
“It’s huge to finally get that monkey of our back,” Mosey said. “Thatsame play had happened earlier and I missed a wide-open net so I knew that Roewas going to get it to me again and I had to put it in.”
St. Cloud State won after losing its first eight NCAA tournament games. TheHuskies (24-13-5) will face Wisconsin, a 3-2 winner over Vermont, on Saturdaynight for a spot in the Frozen Four.
“It was a great college hockey game,” Northern Michigan coach Walt Kylesaid. “There was great goaltending at both ends. We were nervous early andcould not get into a rhythm at all. The difference tonight was definitely theirpower play.”
Roe, Travis Novak and Ryan Lasch also scored, and Mike Lee made 42 saves forSt. Cloud State, which had 22 shots on goal in the first overtime.
“When we get back on our toes and start making some plays, we’re a prettygood hockey team,” Huskies coach Bob Motzko said. “We were able to get threepower-play goals tonight, which is our top guys getting out there. That’scritical.”
Stewart made 50 saves for the Wildcats (20-13-8), who overcame a two-goaldeficit in the third period to force overtime. Justin Florek had a goal and anassist for Northern Michigan, which was playing in the NCAA tournament for thefirst time since 1999. The Wildcats only NCAA title was won in St. Paul in 1991.
“This season it seems like we’ve had penalty trouble a lot,” Florek saidafter the Wildcats were whistled for eight penalties in the game. “That hurtus, tonight especially with their power play.”
Wildcats defenseman Erik Spady tied it with less than 4 minutes left inregulation, firing a shot that beat Lee through a crowd.
Ray Kaunisto also scored for Northern Michigan.
