FROZEN FOUR: Union rolls to title game, defeats Boston College 5-4
Apr 10, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Union Dutchmen forward Daniel Ciampini (17) celebrates his goal with forward Max Novak (18), forward Kevin Sullivan (16) and defenseman Charlie Vasaturo (6) during the third period against the Boston College Eagles in the semifinals of the Frozen Four college ice hockey tournament at Wells Fargo Center. Union defeated Boston College, 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY SportsPHILADELPHIA — Boston College star Johnny Gaudreau scored on his first shot of the game and put up three more points.
The Dutchmen, who haven’t lost a game since January, rolled to the national title game by defeating Boston College 5-4 on Thursday at Wells Fargo Center.
Right winger Daniel Ciampini notched a hat trick, while forward Mike Vecchione and defenseman Mat Bodie each had a goal and an assist to push the Dutchmen to the national championship game for the first time in program history.
Union, 31-6-4 overall, last lost on Jan. 31 and Thursday’s victory was the first time an opponent got within a goal of the Dutchmen since mid-February.
Gaudreau, who is expected to win the Hobey Baker Memorial Award tonight, closed his brilliant season with another big performance. He even had a shot to tie it at the buzzer, but in the end, Union will move on to Saturday night’s game.
“They are an excellent hockey team,” Boston College coach Jerry York said of Union. “I loved how we competed, how we battled down to the last second of the hockey game.”
Boston College led early on Gaudreau’s goal, but Union scored two goals in the first 11 minutes of the second period and never trailed the rest of the game.
It was tied heading into the third, but Ciampini scored the go-ahead goal on a power-play tip-in at 6:31 and Vecchione made it a two-goal game at 11:53.
“I think the biggest thing is the mindset,” Bodie said. “When I came in here as a freshman, you know, there were goals set, but our ultimate goal was not to win a national championship. And that bothered some guys. The next year was to win a national championship and we took a step toward that. It has just been growing each year.”
