Frozen Four: New Jersey freshman sends UMass to championship game

UMass players and coaches celebrate Marc Del Gaizo's overtime goal in the Frozen Four. (Tom Horak/NEHJ)

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Despite losing its way for two periods, UMass was able to recover just in time to survive and advance to Saturday's Frozen Four final thanks to Marc Del Gaizo’s strike 15:18 into overtime.

In their first ever trip to the Frozen Four, the Minutemen jumped out to a 3-1 lead on three power play tallies. However, Denver controlled play for much of the final two periods, eventually evening the score at three and forcing overtime.

However, it was Del Gaizo who gave UMass a 4-3 win and a berth in Saturday’s national championship game against defending champ Minnesota Duluth. He received a pass from Oliver Chau and took a stride or two before unleashing a slap shot that soared past DU goaltender Filip Larsson’s glove and into the back of the net.

“Probably the coolest moment of my life,” said Del Gaizo, a freshman defenseman from Basking Ridge, N.J. “Right now it seems like I'm dreaming. But, I mean, we're off to the national championship, so that's all that matters.”