Holy Cross stuns Minnesota

Associated Press

 

GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- University of North Dakota fans might have adopted Holy Cross for one night, but the honeymoon is over for the Crusaders.

 

Drew Stafford's short-handed goal highlighted a banner night for special teams as UND defeated Michigan 5-1 on Friday night in the second game of the NCAA West Regional semifinals.

 

The win vaults UND into Saturday's regional final against Holy Cross, which upset top-seeded Minnesota 4-3 in overtime in the first semifinal with the crowd firmly behind the Crusaders. The winner earns a berth in the Frozen Four in Milwaukee.

 

"To have all those thousands cheering for us made it a lot easier," Holy Cross goalie Tony Quesada said. "But we know we won't get anything like that tomorrow night."

 

Tyler McGregor scored 53 seconds into overtime to give Holy Cross a shocking victory over Minnesota, the Crusaders' first playoff win in 36 years of hockey.

 

"We were pretty aware that in the media we weren't supposed to win this game," McGregor said. "But in our locker room there was a very different attitude."

 

It was the second goal of the game and 26th of the season for McGregor, who scored after his passing attempt was blocked by a Minnesota defenseman and the puck bounced back to him. Gophers goalie Kellen Briggs had no chance on the play.

 

"Briggs was playing the pass like you would expect him to, but the puck came back to me and he didn't have time to recover," McGregor said. "It was a pretty open net."

 

The Crusaders were seeded No. 4 in the region and had played just one team in the regular season that made the postseason. It was their first game ever against Minnesota, one of the most powerful programs in the country.

 

"I'm in shock and have no emotion," Gophers captain Chris Harrington said. "I can't believe it happened."

 

Quesada kept Holy Cross in the game during regulation, making 35 saves. His play helped keep the Gophers scoreless on seven power-play opportunities.

 

The Gophers appeared to have worn down the Crusaders by the third period, taking a 3-2 lead on Alex Goligoski's goal at 2:17. Minnesota then killed off a 5-on-3 Holy Cross power play.

 

Crusaders forward Pierre Napert-Frenette tied it at 3-all at 7:53 of the third period, poking in a rebound after the puck came to rest in the crease.

 

Dale Reinhardt also scored for Holy Cross (27-9-2).

 

Mike Howe and Phil Kessel added goals for Minnesota (27-9-5).

 

"We didn't play poorly," Gophers coach Don Lucia said. "In fact, we competed real hard but Holy Cross was pretty good. They have a good goalie, good special teams and their top two lines are very skilled."

 

I will obviously admit I know nothing about college hockey outside of Ohio State and the CCHA, but everything I'm reading from those that do is this is akin to a 16 seed beating a 1 seed, only about 10 times more unbelievable.

 

:notworthy to the Crusaders of Holy Cross

that's a bit of hyperbole - it's much easier to pull an upset in hockey than basketball at all levels

 

however, this was still a shocker and as a gopher fan it angers me .... especially since the NoDaks get to talk crap