Well, it all comes down to just one game for everything! The NCAA D-III national championship is on the line, and so too are bragging rights between writers from East and West with just a single game remaining in the 2017-18 season. Brian {Lester] nailed both semifinal games to even up the score between he and Tim with just the final remaining.
Saturday, Mar. 24
No. 6 Salve Regina vs. No. 1 St. Norbert
Brian: The Green Knights have been in this position before. This is the ninth time they are playing in the title game in program history. They are here after a 4-3 win over Colby in the national semifinals Friday. Tanner Froese scored twice and has been sensational all season. With a weapon like him on the ice, St. Norbert has a chance to win every time it plays. He has 14 goals and 17 assists on the season. There also is goaltender T.J. Black. He made 40 saves Friday and now has a school record 26 wins. He owns a goals-against average of 1.45. However, the top-ranked team in the country can’t overlook Salve Regina, which defeated Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 3-0, in its semifinal game Friday. Erik Udahl scored twice in the win, and Blake Wojtala had a stellar game in goal. The All-American made 55 saves in the game for the sixth-ranked Seahawks. It’s safe to say the two best goalies in the nation will be facing off today, and one or two goals could be enough to decide this one. Expect one heck of a fight to the finish. In the end, the Green Knights will be champions again. St. Norbert 3-1.
Tim: Do I go with the hot goaltender like Blake Wojtala, who stopped all 55 shots he faced yesterday, or do I look at coach Coughlin’s team, ranked No. 1 and skating 10 freshmen who aren’t really freshmen anymore at this point of the season. Being a former goaltender, I believe in the power and magic of the streak, and while T.J. Black has been outstanding for the Green Knights, Blake Wojtala is looking for the big prize in knocking off No. 1 to add to his 9-1-0 record against ranked teams. I’m going with three goals total as the tiebreaker and think that this one might need overtime to determine a winner. Salve Regina 2-1
