Pelham, AL – The Bryn Athyn College men's ice hockey fell in overtime to Michigan State University, 7-6 in semifinal game of the Division III ACHA Nationals Championships.
This is the first time in program history, the Lions have made a national appearance and they were the first team in the DVCHC conference to compete in the semifinals of the national tournament.
Scott Witmyer led the Lions with three goals and one assist. Justin Nugent scored one goal and an assist. Paul Napierkowski and Jayson Marbach both scored one goal a piece.
Michigan State scored 2:15 into the game, to take control of the game. They added to the scoring at 11:03, off a Bryn Athyn penalty kill for tripping, to take a 2-0 lead. With eight seconds on the clock of the first period, Napierkowski picks up a loose puck in the neutral zone and scored to put the Lions on the board.
The Spartans retook their two goal lead, with a goal at 5:53 of the second period. Bryn Athyn picked up their offensive pressure and started to put shots on goals. Witmyer at 14:29 scored, off a rebounds shot from Jennings to bring Bryn Athyn within one goal. At 17:12, Witmyer scored again to tie the game at 3-3. 30 seconds later, Michigan State scored to retake the lead. With 45 seconds left in the second period, Bryn Athyn capitalized on the powerplay to tie the game at 4-4 going into the third period.
MSU kept their offense power, scoring two goals in the third period. Marbach scored to chip away at the Spartan lead at 8:44, on the power play. Bryn Athyn tied the game at 13:05, Nugent pinched on Spartan goalie and picked up a loose puck and pushed it through the goalies five hole to tie the game at 6-6. Both teams battled rest of the period and took the game to overtime.
Both teams came out in overtime, exchanging shots on both sides. But the Spartans won the game, off a deflected shot in the slot off to win the semifinal match up.
Bryn Athyn finishes the season ranked #1 in the Atlantic Region and in fourth place in their first National Championship appearance.