Minnesota hockey legend Matchefts dies

John Matchefts, who helped Eveleth win two high school hockey titles and Michigan three consecutive NCAA championships, died Sunday at age 82 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Matchefts was named to the state hockey all-tournament team three times, including 1948 and 1949 when Eveleth won championships. He had 14 goals and 12 assists in nine tournament games. Two years ago, he was named the 10th greatest player in state history by mnhockeyhub.

A member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, Matchefts had 57 goals during his college career and was a two-time All-America. He played for the silver-medal U.S. team in the 1956 Olympics.

He coached high school teams in Thief River Falls and Eveleth before moving to Colorado Springs to coach Colorado College (1966-71) and Air Force (1972-86).

Janine Beckie scored two goals as Texas Tech beat the Gophers 3-0 on Friday in Lubbock, Texas, in a first-round match in the NCAA women's soccer tournament. Jessica Fuston scored in the ninth minute and Beckie in the 32nd to give the Red Raiders (18-2-2) a 2-0 halftime lead. Beckie's second goal came in the 79th minute.

The Gophers, who had only one shot on goal to the Red Raiders' eight, finished the season with an 11-8-2 record.

The No. 11-ranked Gophers swept Ohio State 25-19, 25-19, 25-12 at the Sports Pavilion in Big Ten women's volleyball. Ashley Wittman led Minnesota (23-5, 11-4 conference) with 13 kills and 15 digs. Kaitlyn Leary had 15 kills for the Buckeyes (16-11, 4-11).

The Gophers women's cross-country team took second place in the NCAA Division I Midwest Regional in Ames, Iowa, with 59 points — 20 behind host Iowa State. The top two teams from each region advance to next Saturday's NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Ind.

Molly Kayfes led the Gophers, taking second in a career-best 20 minutes, 20.9 seconds. Teammates Maggie Bollig and Laura Docherty finished eighth and ninth. Iowa State's Crystal Nelson won the race in 20:12.6.

In the men's regional at Ames, Minnesota tied for fifth with 156 points. Senior Andrew Larsen was the highest finisher for the Gophers, placing 18th in a 19K personal-best of 30:51.6.

• Junior Kelly Foley had 25 kills, tying a career-high, as host St. Thomas defeated Augsburg 25-23, 18-25, 25-7, 25-14 in the semifinals of an NCAA Division III volleyball regional. Wis.-Stevens Point beat St. Benedict's 25-20, 23-25, 25-23, 25-20 in the other semifinal. The Tommies (30-2) hit .336 in winning its 12th consecutive match. Lexi Alm led the Blazers (27-4) with 17 kills and 19 digs. The Pointers (33-4) have won 22 matches in a row. The Tommies and Pointers will play at 7 p.m. Saturday for the championship.