For the first time in program history, Penn State is heading to the NCAA Frozen Four. Matt DiMarsico's overtime goal lifted Penn State past UConn for a dramatic 3-2 victory that sends Penn State to St. Louis in two weeks for the NCAA D1 Men's Hockey Tournament Frozen Four. The crowd at the PPL Center in Allentown, largely in favor of Penn State, erupted in unison.
UConn had held the upper hand for much of the third period and overtime in terms of temp and shots on goal, but DiMarsico took advantage of a good opportunity in the UConn end to zip one past Huskies goaltender Callum Tung, who played well all night long. DiMarsico's goal came with just over two minutes remaining in the overtime. Given how the extra session had been going overall, Penn State needed that moment in a big way because UConn's physical style and forechecking was working well for the majority of the later stages of the game.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN PROGRAM HISTORY, @PennStateMHKY IS GOING TO THE MEN'S FROZEN FOUR!#NCAAHockey x 🎥 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/2f4GzeKYfF
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 30, 2025
UConn's Joey Muldowney opened the scoring with a goal off a Penn State turnover early in the first period. But Penn State had been here before by giving up an early goal to Maine in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday. It took a little bit of time to get an answer on the board, but Dane Dowiak slapped in a game-tying goal on a perfect setup in front of the net.
STAY HOTT DANE!!#WeAre#HockeyValleypic.twitter.com/xrP959z5tD
— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) March 30, 2025
Penn State and UConn went into the first intermission tied at 1-1, but UConn regained a one-goal advantage in the second period with a bit of a luck on a redirected dribbler past Penn State goaltender Arsenii Sergeev, the former UConn Husky who transferred to Penn State last summer. But once again, Penn State had a quick response to tie things back up. Freshman JJ Wiebusch capped a furious offensive possession with a goal just 30 seconds later.
Just like that we are tied back up!!#WeAre#HockeyValleypic.twitter.com/ILgHFNGrxt
— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) March 30, 2025
The two teams went into the second intermission knotted at 2-2, and the third period saw a ...
