KALAMAZOO, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Heading to their first National Championship game, Western Michigan University took down powerhouse and defending national champion, the University of Denver, 3-2, in double overtime. WMU is the no. 1 team in the nation and has a nine-match winning streak.
Owen Michaels was the hero, scoring 26 seconds into the second overtime, ending the game. He finished with two goals, scoring his first at 14:32 in the second period for a 2-0 lead. Brian Kramer connected for the first goal at 6:16 in the second. Denver netted two goals to tie the game at 6:49 and 17:21 to send it to overtime. Hampton Slukynsky had 20 saves, while Denver’s Matt Davis collected 44 saves from the onslaught of WMU’s offense.
This was the second time the teams had met, as they played for the NCHC Championship on March 22. WMU prevailed in double overtime, too, 4-3, to claim the championship. Overall, they have played each other four times this season, and WMU holds a 3-1 lead.
WMU set the program record for wins in a season with 33 and will face the winner of Boston University/Penn State in the national championship on Saturday, April 12, at 7:30 p.m. in St. Louis. The game will be televised on ESPN2.