CHICAGO — Tory Caldwell had 22 saves while the Bronchos laid 26 shots on net, however the University of Central Oklahoma was unable to find twine, falling to the Minot State University Beavers 5-0 Saturday in the second round of the 2013 ACHA National Tournament.
It is the second straight year for a second-round exit from the national tournament for the Bronchos (23-15).
“(Minot) came out with tremendous intensity,” UCO head coach Craig McAlister said. “We couldn’t match it, and they’re a bigger and stronger team than we are. All we can do is match them with speed, but their speed, we weren’t ready for it in that first period.”
The Beavers (28-4) needed six minutes to get onto the board, with Sam McGeough and Jared McIntosh feeding Dan Lamb for the score on Caldwell. Lamb would score again seven minutes later, but not after Brady Haygarth scored at the 13-minute mark.
McGeough would net his own goal in the second period, while Donnie Iverson put the final score up with only 30 seconds remaining in the third.
UCO, despite trailing Minot State by only one in the shot department, were hampered by penalties. Ryan Marrs picked up four out of UCO’s 11 game penalties, including a game misconduct for roughing in the third period, along with Minot’s Logan Herauf. Peter Kressner also notched three penalties, two in the third.
“Minot actually deserved to win this game, they were the bigger and better team today,” McAlister said. “There is no doubt in my mind that they are the favorites for the national championship.”
With the win, Minot State will go on to the next round, where they will face UCO’s in-state rivals, the Oklahoma Sooners.
The Bronchos now return to Edmond, where they will have a week off before beginning their offseason program of workouts and conditioning, as well as the team’s recruiting efforts and the ever-popular intrasquad tournament, the Broncho Cup.
