After battling to a scoreless deadlock through two periods, the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point erupted for three goals in the third period Saturday to punch its ticket to the NCAA Division III Frozen Four with a 3-0 win over the University of St. Thomas of Minnesota.
The Pointers (22-4-2) will square off in one of Friday’s semifinals at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston against the winner of Sunday’s quarterfinal between Babson and Oswego State, slated for 3 p.m.
Wisconsin-Stevens Point goalie Brandon Jaeger and St. Thomas goalie Drew Fielding went to to toe through 40 minutes, making a combined 33 save to keep the game scoreless.
The Pointers started heating up in the third.
Alex Kromm netted a goal at 6:17 to break the ice. Kyle Brodie added another at 10:52 to add some insurance, and Garrett Ladd supplied the dagger at 12:22. Jaeger made those stand with nine saves in the final frame to earn the victory.
St. Norbert downs Adrian
The top-ranked team in NCAA Division III rolled into the national semifinals Saturday with a convincing win.
Joe Perry scored twice and five other skaters added a goal each to lead St. Norbert to a 7-2 win over Adrian College in De Pere, Wisc.
Perry also added an assist, and goalie David Jacobson made 12 saves in the victory.
It was all St. Norbert, all the time in the opening frame as the Green Knights bolted out to a 2-00 advantage on goals by Perry and Erik Cooper.
Cullen Bradshaw and Ross Pavek added a goal each 2:07 apart early in the second to push the visitors’ lead to 4-0, and Chris Rial made it 5-0 at 12″22 of the second with his seventh of the season.
Kevin Balas finally got Adrian (22-3-4) on the board at 9:32 of the third period, but Michael Hill and Perry sandwiched an Adrian goal by Justin Basso down the stretch to quell any idea of a comeback.
St. Norbert will face the winner of the SUNY-Geneseo/Norwich quarterfinal, scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m.
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