Comeback Kids Fall Short

In a rematch of the 2005 ECRHA Division II Championship game Neumann College met up with Hofstra University in the quarterfinal round of the 2005 National Championship Tournament in Fort Collins, CO.   In the championship game Hofstra rallied back from a late deficit, for the third time in as many games, to claim their first Division II regional championship. 

 

Hofstra advanced to the quarterfinals in yet another come from behind victory by defeating defending Division II National Champion UM ? St. Louis and found themselves in a similar position against Neumann trailing by a goal with the score 7-6 with time running down in the third period.  However despite their growing reputation as the ?Comeback Kids? for Hofstra University there was no miracle in store on this evening as the Neumann College Knights avenged their earlier defeat by outlasting the Pride and advancing to the Final Four. 

 

It was indeed the Knights that came back from three early deficits before taking their first lead at 5-4 midway through the second period and then taking the lead for good at 6-5 2:50 into the third period when John Holmes (1 goal, 1 assist) one-timed a backhand flip pass from Gary Todd (1 goal, 4 assists) following a turnover from the Hofstra defense. 

 

Neumann extended their lead with 5:52 remaining in the third period when Dan Sangiorgio slammed home the rebound of a backhand shot from Sean White (1 goal, 2 assists) between the pads of Hofstra goaltender John Rudenhauer (21 saves).  After the initial shot hit Rudenhauer in the stomach, he lost sight of the puck between his feet before Sangiorgio poked it past him. 

 

Jonathan Mosenson brought the Pride within a goal just 0:41 after Sangiorgio?s goal when he fired a quick wrist shot off the inside of the left post to make the score 7-6 with 5:11 left to play.  However, lead by goaltender Corey Cramer (21 saves), Neumann held off Hofstra as the final minutes ticked off the clock in the process killing off a late power play assessed with just over 90 seconds remaining.

 

Neumann advances to the Final Four round of the 2005 National Championship Tournament where they will face-off against Saint Louis University with the scheduled start time listed at 8:00 AM Sunday morning.  Hofstra finishes their season with an overall record of 23-9-1.