PITTSBURGH – Filip Lindberg scored 25 stops, Aaron Bohlinger scored his first goal of the race and Massachusetts won St. Louis. Cloud State by 5-0 Saturday night to win the program’s first NCAA title.
After the billing of St. Cloud State, Bohlinger led the way for Ryan Sullivan with a beautiful free kick that went just wide of the top left corner. Reed Lebster’s final goal with about a minute to go gave the Minutemen a 2-0 lead.
UMass (20-5-4), which extended its unbeaten streak to 14 games with a program record, made its third appearance in the NCAA tournament. The Minutemen lost 3-0 to Minnesota Duluth, who UMass defeated in the semifinals on Thursday, in the 2019 title. The 2020 Frozen Four was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
David Hrenak had 17 savings for St. Cloud State (20-11-0), which made its first appearance in the program title.
Philip Lagunov grabbed a loose record near the center of the ice, cut back to evade a defender and scored a short goal five minutes into the second period to make it 3-0. Matthew Kessel added a power-play goal about eight minutes later, and Bobby Trivigno scored in the third period.
Lindberg set his fourth career record in the NCAA tournament. The junior from Finland entered the match leading the nation in goals against the average (1.33) and savings percentage (.946).
UMass have been 15-0-0 this season scoring at least four goals.