Quarterfinal #1 – Florida Atlantic Owls vs Farmingdale State College Rams
Jake Murphy scored twice, including the game-winner, to help Florida Atlantic defeat Farmingdale State for the second straight day.
The quarterfinal matchup followed a similar pattern as yesterday, with the Rams hanging around on the scoreboard despite being overwhelmed by FAU’s offensive chances. Farmingdale State drew even with four minutes in the second period on a scramble goal from Luke Lafata. Florida Atlantic struck back moments later on a beautiful PPG from Jake Murphy to take a 2-1 lead into the final period.
Like the previous night, the Owls added to their edge instead of sitting back to defend a one-goal lead. Christian Cotter and Brady Baehser scored PPGs less than a minute apart to put the game out of reach. Rocco Bruno stopped 26 of 27 shots in the quarterfinal win for FAU.
Final: Florida Atlantic 5 | Farmingdale State College 1
– Danny Baum, AAU Hockey Head Editor
Quarterfinal #2 – High Point Panthers vs South Florida Bulls
The AAU Division Two quarterfinals got underway as High Point University Panthers looked to send the University of South Florida Ice Bulls back to Tampa Bay. The Panthers were the winners of Pool C. Meanwhile, the USF Ice Bulls came in as a wildcard team.
High Point University didn’t take long to get their power play rolling, as Nick Sasso set up Liam Donahue for a goal. Luckily for the Ice Bulls, their power play was able to answer back, setting up the cycle. Tyler Stowe passed the puck to Nolan Ott, who fired a one-timer from the right face-off circle. Neither team was able to get the upper hand, and the game was deadlocked heading into the second period.
The goals didn’t slow down in the second, with Grant Dietz giving USF the lead twenty-one seconds into the period. Unfortunately, the Panthers would apply intense pressure as Jack Slayton and Matt Hughes scored fifty-three seconds apart. Jack Slayton didn’t slow down, scoring his seventh goal of the tournament and the game-winning goal. Tyler Stowe found the back of the net at the end of the period, looking to spur on the Ice Bulls, heading into the third down one.
The Panthers’ defense and goaltending, led by Jack Vieira, made the difference in the third period as they shut out the Ice Bulls. The dagger came with just 3:30 left in the game when Michael Yelle beat USF goalie Zachary Leniek over his left pad to put the game out of reach.
Final: High Point 5 | South Florida 3
– Gavin Coker, AAU Hockey Beat Writer
Quarterfinal #3 – Tampa Spartans vs Anna Maria College Amcats
In their first two games at the AAU Hockey Nationals, the Anna Maria College Amcats gave up one goal. In their last two, they’ve given up 12 goals combined.
The quarterfinal matchup started promisingly for the Amcats, as they carried a 1-0 lead to the 28 minute mark of the game. Ben Hardy’s shutout bid was abruptly ended by the Spartans, who erupted for three goals in seven minutes to shift momentum. JP Sferra, Nicholas Zehelein, and Reagan Lyon scored for Tampa in the second period.
Through a penalty filled third period, the Spartans held down the fort to eliminate the Amcats and move on to the semifinals. Tampa will play High Point tomorrow at 8:15 P.M.
David Palandjian made 32 saves in the quarterfinal win, improving his record to 3-0-0 at the AAU Nationals. Palandjian also has a goals-against average of 1.00 with a save percentage of 0.963%.
Final: Tampa 6 | Anna Maria College 1
– Danny Baum, AAU Hockey Head Editor
Quarterfinal #4 – Bishop’s University Gaiters vs Middle Tenn. State Blue Raiders
The Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders defeated the Bishops University Gaiters, 5-2, to advance to the semifinal round of the AAU Division 2 National Tournament.
The Blue Raiders collected the lone goal of the opening period, as Ethan Demumbrum found the back of the net with just 1:28 remaining to get his team on the board heading into the second. By the end of the second, it became clear that Demumbrum’s goal ignited Middle Tennesee’s offense, as the Blue Raiders collected four more goals in the frame to establish a solid lead.
Matthew Siciliano tallied the first less than two minutes into the period, followed by a shorthanded goal from Brendan Ogle halfway through the frame. Siciliano added his second of the night two minutes later, and Ogle followed suit to close the period with a 5-0 lead.
The Gaiters found the back of the net twice in the third: the first was courtesy of Frederic Nicolas with 6:51 remaining and the other came off the stick of Cody Morton while on the power play with just two seconds on the clock. Unfortunately for Bishops, the final buzzer indicated the end of its run for the national championship.
The Blue Raiders will look to take down the Florida Atlantic Owls at 7:15 p.m. tomorrow night to advance to the title game.
Final: Middle Tennessee State 5 | Bishop’s University 0
– Kelly Kaelblein, AAU Hockey Beat Writer
St. John Fisher Cardinals vs Rowan University Profs
Pool A’s first tournament game saw the Cardinals dominate the Rowan Profs, 5-1.
The Cardinals had early trouble to deal with, though, as Dylan Mulcahy was assessed a major penalty for hitting from behind just 14 seconds into the game. The Profs scored once on the five-minute power play to take a 1-0 lead.
It was all Cardinals from that point on. Five different goal scorers chipped in to give St. John Fisher a commanding 5-1 win on day one of pool play. Jonah Reashor led the Cardinals with a goal and two assists on the afternoon.
Final: St. John Fisher 5 | Rowan University 1
Liberty Flames vs Alvernia Golden Wolves
The top-seeded Liberty Flames took care of business against Alvernia, blanking the Golden Wolves 4-0.
Like St. John Fisher in Pool A’s first game, Liberty was forced to kill off a major penalty. With a 2-0 lead, the Flames didn’t just kill the penalty but also netted two shorthanded goals during the five-minute powerplay. First, it was Kelly Stroik scoring his second of the afternoon. A minute and 36 seconds later, Zachary Lemons tallied to boost Liberty’s lead to 4-0.
Alvernia couldn’t generate sustained offense, as the Flame’s defense smothered them. Kyle Wesbury stopped all 21 shots he faced in the shutout win.
Liberty will take on conference foe Rowan University tomorrow at 5:15 P.M., while Alvernia will battle St. John Fisher at 10:15 A.M.
Final: Liberty 4 | Alvernia 0
– Danny Baum, AAU Hockey Head Editor
Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Appalachian State Mountaineers
In the first Pool B Matchup of the Day, the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights looked to conquer the Appalachian State University Mountaineers. Lucas Tremont scored the first goal of the tournament on the powerplay for the Mountaineers on a sharp angled shot, thanks to precision passing from Jason Beck and Chase Arnett.
After giving up a powerplay goal, Rutgers University found one of their own to start the second period. David Vaysberg started the play, forcing a turnover in the neutral zone, before setting up Jamie Zimmerman for a one-timer in the slot that tied the game. Eight minutes later the Mountaineers capitalized as James McGlade found a loose puck off a Robert Richter shot to regain the lead. Just minutes later Ryan Mrotek showed his speed as he skated across the slot beating Mountaineers goalie Lucad Weyer to tie the game up.
Unfortunately, the third period would be one to forget for Appalachian State. A shot from Gavin Reiger four minutes into the period would deflect off Ryan Mrotek giving the Scarlet Knights the 3-2 lead. Less than a minute later David Vaysberg channeled his inner Nathan McKinnon going three-on-one to find the back of the net. The Scarlet Knights passing clinic continued as Ivan Patapovich fed Christian Hoppeler for a goal. Ivan Patapovich after setting up goals, decided he wanted one of his own. In what is known as one of the most beautiful plays in hockey, he fired a shot from the blueline giving Lucad Weyer no time to react. In what was a sure win Rutgers continued to run the score up with a final goal from Vincent Smythe, securing the 7-2 win to start off the tournament.
Rutgers University with a strong opening day performance will look to improve to 2-0, when they face the University of Tennessee Ice Vols. On the other end Appalachian State will have their hands full taking on AAU’s leading scorer Brandon Avezov and the Columbia University Lions, looking to avoid elimination.
Final: Rutgers 7 | Appalachian State 2
Columbia University Lions vs Tennessee Ice Vols
In the 2 o’clock game it was the second-seed Columbia University Lions looking to show the University of Tennessee who’s the king of Pool B. Both teams are looking to get a win to match Rutgers University after their victory earlier in the day.
The Lions found the first goal of the game with Theodore Schulman redirecting Dylan Bott shot from the blueline, leaving goalie Ryan Farrell unable to adjust. The pressure continued from Columbia University but Ryan Farrell shut the door keeping the Ice Vols in the game down one into the first intermission.
Both teams battled early in the second, with a number of chances for both sides. But once again it was Columbia finding the back of the net. Brandon Avezov and Troy Daniels played hot-potato along the blueline with Daniels scoring on a shot from the point on the powerplay. Trailing by three heading into the final period, the Ice Vols would have their work cut out for them.
The intermission didn’t cool off the Lions as Christopher Lerner and Nicholas Sloan scored to open the period. With the two early goals Columbia University shut the door on any comeback, winning the game 5-0. Michael Cullen was the star of the game, locking down the crease with a 25 save shutout in the first game of the tournament.
Final: Columbia University v Tennessee
Gavin Coker, AAU Hockey Beat Writer
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers vs Stony Brook Seawolves
The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers utilized a third period scoring burst to propel themselves past the Stony Brook Seawolves by a score of 5-2 in their first pool play contest.
The Seawolves opened the scoring halfway through the first, courtesy of Michael Rocco. Still looking to find their footing in the latter half of the first, the Chanticleers did not find their way onto the score sheet until the final 30 seconds of the opening frame, as Owen O’Brien eventually rifled a shot past Nick Guadagno to tie the game at 1-1 heading into the second.
Rocco tallied the lone goal of the middle period less than four minutes in to put Stony Brook back on top. Unbeknownst to the Seawolves at the end of the second, the next 20 minutes would drastically turn the tide in favor of Coastal Carolina.
To kick off what was ultimately a four-goal period for the Chanticleers, Connor Pacheco hit paydirt less than two minutes into the frame to even the score at 2 a side. Shortly after, Turner Sambrook slung home the go-ahead for Coastal Carolina. Two additional goals from Pacheco — his second of the night — and Colin McAdams solidified the Chanticleers 5-2 comeback win.
Coastal Carolina will look to carry the momentum from this win into its contest against the Fairfield Stags at 1:15 p.m. tomorrow, while Stony Brook will face the undefeated South Carolina Gamecocks.
Coastal Carolina 5
Stony Brook 2
Final
South Carolina Gamecocks vs Fairfield Stags
The South Carolina Gamecocks narrowly defeated the Fairfield Stags, 1-0, to open their pool play slate.
In regulation, the Stags tallied 25 shots and five power plays, while the Gamecocks racked up 42 shots and six power plays. Despite these opportunities, neither team found the back of the net in the first three periods, forcing the contest into overtime.
South Carolina’s Matteo Marchese became the overtime hero, as he scored the first and only goal of the matchup less than five minutes into the extra period to send his team into day two with two points under its belt.
South Carolina 1| Fairfield 0
– Kelly Kaelblein, AAU Hockey Beat Writer
