The semi-finals got underway, with the St. John Fisher University Cardinals taking on the wild card spot Fairfield University Stags. St. John Fisher entered the game after downing the one-seed Liberty University yesterday.
St. John Fisher and Fairfield University both came in as dark horses and lived up to the name, with the winner battling for the title of National Champion. The Cardinals took no time setting the tone. Devin Mulchay received a backdoor feed from Antonio Femia to give them the lead on the power play. Mateo Torres extended the lead six minutes later, receiving a pass from Antonio Femia.
With a 2-0 deficit, the Stags put the pressure on, outshooting the Cardinals 14-12 in the second. St. John Fisher’s goalie, Derek Joy, withstood every shot, allowing them to extend their lead to three. John Sarrino showed his awareness on the ice, finding a puck that escaped from Padraig Kirchner as he scored a goal from his stomach.
St. John Fisher was twenty minutes away from securing their trip to the finals with a convincing lead. The stingy defense was the message for the Cardinals, holding the Stags to just five shots in the period. That didn’t stop Jonah Reashor from finding the back of the net on the powerplay. The Stags battled with the game out of reach, finding a goal as Kyle Dillon helped avoid the shutout.
The Cardinal’s win puts them sixty minutes away from a National Championship. Still, they’ll have to take on the best from the winner of semifinal #2 between South Carolina and Columbia University.
Final :
St. John Fisher 4
Fairfield 1
In the day’s second semifinal, the tournament’s number two and three seeds tangled in a tremendous defensive struggle. The story coming into this game was Columbia’s high-flying offense against the undefeated Gamecock’s stifling defense. The Lions have scored at least five goals in its first three games of the tournament, with Brandon Avezov leading the way, scoring 12 points.
Meanwhile, South Carolina has allowed more than two goals in just five of its 22 games. Something had to give, and it was the Lion’s offense.
The first 30 minutes of the game came with few chances for either team. Shots were at 11-6 in favor of USC when Owen Newnam sniped a PPG to give the Gamecocks a 1-0 lead. South Carolina continued the pressure, hemming Columbia in its defensive zone for extended shifts but couldn’t add to its lead.
The Lions capitilized on a late second period power play to tie the game off the stick of Troy Daniels, sending the game tied at 1 into the final period.
Momentum switched back and forth in an incredibly intense and tight period, and it looked like the game was destined for overtime. However, Calidore Robinson was called for hooking with under two minutes to go to give the ‘Cocks their fourth powerplay of the game.
Paul Marshall tapped a pass from Matthew Baxter into the back of the net to score South Carolina’s second PPG of the game, and send the Gamecocks to the National Championship. Drew Durdov stopped 21 of 22 shots in the semifinal win for the ‘Cocks.
South Carolina’s win sets up a date with the St John Fisher Cardinals in the Division 3 AAU National Championship game tomorrow at 1:00 P.M. EST.
Final:
South Carolina 2
Columbia 1
