Bemidji State's dream denied

Pablo Martinez Monsivais, Associated Press

Miami of Ohio's Pat Cannone (20) tries to score on Bemidji State's Tyler Jundt (2), center, and goaltender Matt Dalton.

The Beavers' improbable run to the Frozen Four had an unhappy ending with a loss to Miami (Ohio).

By JESS MYERS, Special to the Star Tribune

Last update: April 10, 2009 - 1:05 AM

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NCAA HOCKEY MEN'S FROZEN FOUR

Thursday and Saturday • Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. • TV: ESPN2

Semifinals: Miami (Ohio) 4, Bemidji State 1 • Boston University 5, Vermont 4

Championship game: Miami (Ohio) vs. Boston University • 6 p.m. Saturday

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WASHINGTON — Looking to extend their surprising playoff run at a rink just down the street from the U.S. Capitol, Bemidji State was met with the hockey version of a filibuster Thursday.

Miami (Ohio)'s deliberate style of clogging lanes and controlling the puck kept the previously high-flying Beavers off their game throughout, as the RedHawks advanced to the NCAA title game with a 4-1 victory.

The Beavers had stormed to a surprise Frozen Four trip with nine goals in their first two NCAA playoff games, but they were unable to muster any consistent offense vs. Miami.

"They were strong. They were quick. They reacted well," Beavers coach Tom Serratore said. "Every facet of their game was very good, and we couldn't get on track."

The Beavers finish the season with a 20-16-1 mark but, more important, finished the season at the Frozen Four -- a first for the No. 16 seed in the 16-team NCAA field. While the loss had a sting, there was a definite sense that something special had been accomplished in the past few weeks.

"It's been a great run this year," said Tyler Scofield, the Beavers' leading scorer. "Senior year, going to the Frozen Four, you can't ask for much more."

In a scoreless first period, Miami's deliberate style worked effectively to slow the Beavers' hot top line, and Bemidji State was unable to capitalize on a few uncharacteristic rebounds surrendered by Miami goaltender Cody Reichard. But the RedHawks took quick control in the middle period. Miami rattled off the first five shots and took a 2-0 lead on a power-play goal by Tommy Wingels and an even-strength marker by Alden Hirschfeld. Miami's plan was to take the Beavers' speed and use it against them.

"We knew Bemidji was going to be tough in the way they play that real aggressive style," Miami coach Enrico Blasi said. "I thought our guys did a pretty good job of adapting to that and really trying to turn it on them in transition."

The Beavers struck back briefly, cashing in on a power-play goal less than a minute after the RedHawks had gone up by two. Working in the corner, freshman Shea Walters zipped a centering pass to Matt Francis, who was 10 feet from the crease. Francis could not corral the pass but instead shoveled it to Matt Read, who was coming across the goalmouth. With Reichard leaning one way, Read went the other and slipped a low shot past the goaltender for his 15th goal of the season.

The goal brought much of the underdog-loving crowd to its feet, but their celebration was short-lived. Only 61 seconds later, Bill Loupee scored for Miami, poking in the rebound of a shot goalie Matt Dalton originally stopped, and the RedHawks were up 3-1.

Serratore said they knew they had the crowd on their side, but the inability to get and keep the crowd excited diminished that advantage.

"We're kind of that story, that George Mason story, if you want to say that, and it was great," Serratore said. "But we could never get the crowd into it. That's the trouble. If we could've got the crowd into it, maybe we could've fed off it, but we just couldn't get it done."

Leading by two in the third period, the RedHawks played to their strengths, holding the Beavers without a quality scoring chance and adding an empty-net goal. Saturday's final will be Miami's first appearance in an NCAA title game in any sport.