April 14, 2012
UNLV Tops #1 Seed Lindenwood
For the second consecutive year, Lindenwood University has been eliminated from the tournament earlier than expected. This year it was UNLV who dashed the hopes of the perennial powerhouse Lindenwood, who had a strong round robin, playing in Pool A and posting a record of 2 wins and 1 tie, and a goal differential of +8. UNLV went undefeated in Pool C, with a goal differential of +12.
UNLV pulled away quickly with 3 goals in the first 5 minutes of play, with 3 different players scoring. Lindenwood got on the board with 3:13 remaining in the 1st, on their first of three power play goals. Lindenwood would go on to score the next 3 goals, 2 on the power play in the 2nd period, and again in the 3rd, to take the lead for the first time in the game with 5:41 remaining in regulation. Shots favored Lindenwood 33-25 in regulation, requiring UNLV goaltender Travis Barendt to play probably his best game of the entire season, holding off the Lindenwood attack, getting his team to overtime.
It did not take long for the teams to each trade chances in tthe overtime, but it was UNLV who caught the break, as Andrew Tamura scored his second goal of the game just 1:27 into the overtime, when his shot rebounded off the Lindenwood goaltender’s right leg pad and went into the net off of the backchecking Lindenwood defender. UNLV’s celebration had striking resemblance to last year’s Long Beach win against Lindenwood, the only difference being 4 different UNLV players scoring in the game.
The other 4 Elite Eight matchups featured Michigan State defeating Neumann University 6-2, Bethel University coming back from a 4-1 deficit to beat defending champion Long Beach State 5-4, and Eastern Michigan sneaking by Central Florida 6-5.
UNLV faces Michigan State in the semifinals, today at 12:15pm, while Bethel faces Eastern Michigan immediately after at 1:15pm. Both semifinal games and the championship game tonight at 7:30pm will feature audio broadcast by “Voice of the NCRHA” Bill Courtland. To access the audio feed for all games, click on the "Listen" icon on the game schedule, or click here!