Sioux snag Frozen Four berth

Associated Press

Last update: March 30, 2008 - 11:21 PM

Print this story

More from Gophers

North Dakota’s luck changed in an instant. Now the Fighting Sioux look to reverse their fortunes in the Frozen Four.

Andrew Kozek scored the game-winner 1 minutes, 47 seconds into overtime as North Dakota beat Wisconsin 3-2 on Sunday in Madison, Wis., to win the Midwest Regional and reach the Frozen Four for the fourth consecutive year.

The Fighting Sioux, who haven’t won a title since claiming their seventh in 2000, will face Boston College in Denver on April 10. The Eagles eliminated UND the past two seasons in the NCAA semifinals.

The Sioux had been 1-24 when trailing after two periods.

Down 2-0 entering the third, North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol switched Kozek to the top line along with Ryan Duncan, last year’s Hobey Baker winner, and T.J. Oshie, a finalist for the award this year.

The move paid immediate dividends. Rylan Kaip put North Dakota (28-10-4) on the board when he swung around and sent his shot through Shane Connelly’s legs with 16:27 left.

Only 47 seconds later, Oshie left a drop pass for Duncan, whose shot clanged the pipe but settled in the net, tying the score.

"It caught the post, and it caught the back of the net. It was obviously a big one," said Duncan, who scored his fourth goal of the tournament. "If we didn’t come back, our season was over."

Wisconsin (16-17-7) had several chances before overtime against its conference rival. Both Badgers goals came from defensemen; Jamie McBain and Cody Goloubef scored in the second period.

Northeast Regional

Boston College 4, Miami of Ohio 3 (OT): Joe Whitney’s goal 12:12 into overtime gave the second-seeded Eagles the Northeast Regional title over the top-seeded RedHawks in Worcester, Mass. BC (22-11-8) advanced to the Frozen Four for the third year in a row.

Miami (33-8-1) opened up a 2-0 lead before the Eagles struck with three goals in a
1:58 span late in the second period.

Recent Gophers stories

Saaka scores 22, Evans gets 11 assists as Furman pulls away to coast past Dartmouth 83-60 - March 30, 2008

Saaka scores 22, Evans gets 11 assists as Furman pulls away to coast past Dartmouth 83-60 - Amu Saaka scored 22 points to pace three Furman players in double figures and Darryl Evans handed out a career-high 11 assists in an 83-60 victory over Dartmouth on Saturday night. More