PITTSBURGH – Filip Lindberg scored 25 saves, Aaron Bohlinger scored his first career goal and Massachusetts scored St. Louis. Cloud State beat 5-0 Saturday night to win the program’s first NCAA title.
After the turnover of St. Cloud State lead Bohlinger a breakaway and throw the kick down to Ryan Sullivan, whose one-time pass set up Bohlinger’s one-time player to open the scoring about 7 minutes into the game. Reed Lebster’s goal with about a minute left in the first, gave the Minutemen a 2-0 lead.
UMass (20-5-4), who extended his unbeaten streak to a 14-game program record, made his third NCAA Tournament appearance. The Minutemen lost 3-0 to Minnesota Duluth – who beat UMass in the semifinals on Thursday – in the title race for 2019. The 2020 Frozen Four were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
David Hrenak has 17 savings for St. Cloud State (20-11-0), which made the first title appearance in the program.
Philip Lagunov picked up a loose shooter near the midfield, cut back to dodge a defender and scored a short-headed goal about five minutes into the second period to make the score 3-0. Matthew Kessel added a power goal about eight minutes later, and Bobby Trivigno limited the score in the third period.
Lindberg placed his record fourth career exclusion in the NCAA Tournament. The junior from Finland led the match presented by the country in goals against the average (1.33) and a saving percentage (.946).
UMass is 15-0-0 this season when he has scored at least four goals.