University of Minnesota Athletics
Hoeffel's Late Goal Puts Gophers in Title Game
1/3/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Mike Hoeffel scored with 2:50 left in regulation as Minnesota won for the fourth straight time with a 3-1 win over Bowling Green on Saturday at Mariucci Arena.
The Gophers climbed back to the .500 mark with the victory, improving to 9-9-1 overall and advancing to the Dodge Holiday Classic title game. Minnesota will face a second straight Central Collegiate Hockey Association opponent in the finals when it meets Northern Michigan, which defeated Clarkson 4-0 in Saturday's other game. Bowling Green plays Clarkson for consolation on Sunday at 4 p.m. with the Gophers and Northern Michigan to follow at 7 p.m. Minnesota is the defending tournament champion and has won 12 of the previous 18 titles.
For the second time during its current winning streak, Minnesota trailed entering the third period as Bowling Green netted the only goal of the first two frames on a score by Jordan Samuels-Thomas at the 1:27 mark of the second period. The Gophers controlled play for much of the first two periods with a 30-14 advantage in shots, but nothing on the scoreboard against the defensive-minded Falcons.
Mike Carman finally broke through for the Gophers with a nifty backhanded power play goal at 3:31 of the third peirod. Nico Sacchetti passed to Carman at the blueline and the senior skated around two defenders before lifting the puck top shelf for his fourth goal of the season. Reigning tournament Most Valuable Player Aaron Ness also assisted the goal.
The game remained deadlocked until Hoeffel broke the tie with his clutch goal with 2:50 left. He wristed a shot from the slot and it trickled under the left pad of Falcons' goaltender Andrew Hammond for the game-winner. Zach Budish and Carman assisted the goal, which was Hoeffel's team-leading ninth of the season.
Ryan Flynn added an empty net goal with 20 seconds left off an assist from Hoeffel. Minnesota's previous two wins during the streak were both by one goal.
Minnesota played without sophomore Jordan Schroeder, who was playing in the World Junior Championships in Saskatchewan. However, the Gophers got a solid debut from junior transfer Jacob Cepis, who was facing his former team after playing the previous two seasons at Bowling Green. Cepis created several offensive chances and led Minnesota with six shots on goal.
The Gophers held a 41-23 advantage in shots for the game as Alex Kangas finished with 22 saves. Kangas has been in goal for all four of Minnesota's consecutive victories. Minnesota was one-for-three on the power play and killed off all five of Bowling Green's power play chances. The Falcons held a 43-24 advantage in faceoffs for the game.
