ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Quinnipiac is moving on to the 2022 NCAA Allentown Regional final after a 5-4 win against St. Cloud State on Friday night at the PPL Center.
Brendan Less opened the scoring less than five minutes into the contest for Quinnipiac, before TJ Friedmann made it 2-0 for the Bobcats late in the first period. Nolan Walker got St. Cloud back within a goal just 68 seconds into a wild second period, before Sam Hentges, who set up Walker’s goal, got one of his own just six minutes later. Quinnipiac regained the lead just under three minutes later on a goal by Michael Lombardi, only to have St. Cloud’s Brendan Bushy tally the tying goal shortly afterwards.
Griffin Mendel scored 27 seconds into the third frame for the Bobcats to make it 4-3, before Jaden Lee connected some eight minutes later for a two-goal advantage. The Huskies got an extra-attacker goal from Walker with 1:16 left and continued to press, but couldn’t get the equalizer.
Quinnipiac will face Michigan, the top seed in this year’s tournament, in Sunday’s regional final to decide who will head to the Frozen Four next month in Boston.
Full story to come.