Miami beats Minnesota State 4-0, advances to Sunday's regional final

3/30/2013
BLADE STAFF

Miami shutout Minnesota State 4-0 in an NCAA Midwest Regional semifinal hockey game today at the Huntington Center.

Curtis McKenzie scored with 8:56 left in the second period to break a scoreless deadlock. Marc Hagel then scored on a nice assist from Blake Coleman 2:30 into the third period.

Cody Murphy then gave Miami a 3-0 cushion with 10:36 left in the third period. Max Cook added an empty net goal with 58 seconds left.

Miami freshman goaltender Ryan McKay made eight saves in each of the first two periods. McKay finished with 21 saves.

Miami (25-11-5), which won the Central Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season title, came into the tournament as the No. 2 seed. The RedHawks are playing in their eighth consecutive regional.

Minnesota State (24-14-3), which is located in Mankato, Minn., was the third seed and was making its second NCAA tournament appearance after qualifying in 2003.

Miami advances to face St. Cloud State (24-15-1) in the regional final at 4 p.m. Sunday. St. Cloud State defeated Notre Dame 5-1 in the first semifinal at the Huntington Center.