A late goal would clinch Yeshiva D-III's national title.Lindenwood wins AA championship

AUBURN — Sol Feder ducked in frustration after missing an open netlet in the third period.

The Yeshiva University freshman got his second chance 10 seconds later, this time scoring the game-winning goal at the net 8:11 into the game, clinching a 5-4 victory over Hofstra University. , won the national collegiate roller hockey championship. Association Division III National Championship held at the Norwegian Savings Bank Arena.

This is the Maccabees' first national championship.

“At the end of the day, I wouldn't be here without my teammates,” Feder said. “I'm really grateful to have been given that opportunity, but it wouldn't have happened without a great shot from the point. We took advantage of the opportunity after almost missing the chance two seconds ago. .”

Yeshiva is a private Orthodox Jewish university located in New York City. The roller hockey program has been in place since 2015.

“We're not a big school. As an Orthodox university, we have a lot of restrictions, dual curriculum, we can't play on Shabbat, we can't practice on Shabbat,” the Yeshiva's Coach Arie Minsky said. “Winning the D-III national title was very impressive and something we are really proud of.”

Before the national championships began, both teams met in the regional finals, with the Pride defeating the Maccabees to win the regional championship.

“We had a tough break against Hofstra in the regional championship,” Feder said. “This was more than a national championship, it was a revenge game. We wanted this game so bad. It's an honor to be here.”

Hofstra (Hempstead, N.Y.) was playing the last college roller hockey game of the season, so it wasn't ashamed of losing in the D-III title game.

“We did everything we could,” Pride coach AJ Frey said. “At the end of the day, it didn't work out for us. I want them to go away with no regrets. They left everything there. I want them to know that sometimes in sports, things like that happen. It is.”

After Feder's go-ahead goal, Hofstra nearly tied the game. Matthew Materaso took a shot from the belly into a half-open net, but it deflected and play was stopped with about a minute left.

Frey said his plan in the final moments of the game was simple.

“It was, 'Hey, we've got to put the puck in the net, the game's over,'” Frey said. “Keep throwing, keep throwing, and hope it goes in.”

Yeshiva took the lead 5:42 into the first period when Feder fired a shot at Hofstra goaltender Matthew Levy (26 saves) and Benji Froom took the rebound and sent the puck into the net.

“I just remember Sol taking a shot into the net and me putting it in,” Froome said. “I was as happy as I could be.”

Feder extended the lead to 2-0 with a wrist shot from the right circle.

When Maccabees goaltender Michael Mintz (17 saves) couldn't get the glove on Britt Bischoff's shot and the puck rolled into the goal, Hofstra bounced back.

Colin Ewald scored the tying goal for the Pride 10 minutes into the first period.

Connor Hall had his shot deflected off Mintz's pad and into the net about three minutes into the middle frame, giving Hofstra a 3-2 lead.

Yeshiva's Yoni Drazin had a chance to break through, but Levi made the save. When the power play expired, the Maccabees had another chance, but were unable to get the puck past Hofstra's body near the crease.

A few minutes later, there was another body in front of Hofstra's crease. The net went out of place, but play continued and Yeshiva's Donnie Fuchs tied it.

After a one-minute break at the end of the second period, Ewald's outburst gave the Pride a 4-3 lead just 21 seconds into the third period.

Two minutes later, Froome passed to Jonah Suissa, who fired a backhand shot past Levy to level the score at 4-4.

Froome said he is glad the graduating seniors were part of the Maccabees that made it past the Elite Eight for the first time in program history.

“Once you get over the hump, you have to keep going,” Froome said. “We had to rely on Donnie (Fuchs) and a few of our seniors to help us get it done.”

AA Championship

A hat trick and two assists from Sean Sapienza led Lindenwood to an 8-0 victory over Boston College and the Class AA national championship.

“It was fun to win with the team,” Sapienza said. “The atmosphere was great and my teammates were great. It's a great time to be here and enjoy this with the team.”

This is the Lions' 18th national championship at the AA level.

The AA Championship is for clubs that participate in second teams in the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association national tournament.

The powerhouse Division I team from Lindenwood (St. Charles, Mo.) lost in triple overtime to Grand Canyon University in the championship game Saturday night.

Dillon Bilek took the lead early in the first period of the AA championship game with a shot past Boston goaltender Samuel Boardman.

The Terriers took a shot on the power play late in the first half, but couldn't find the net.

After the Lions took a penalty, Sapienza doubled the lead with an assist from Cameron Green.

“Sean Sapienza has been huge for us. He's a freshman,” Lindenwood coach John Hilke said. “The kid has a bright future. He had a great year and is one of our top players. We're excited to have him for three more games.”

Lindenwood made it 3-on-1 in the final seconds, but the shot hit the post.

Sapienza beat Boardman (29 saves) early in the second game with a short-handed goal past the Terriers' defense.

A minute later, Sapienza completed his hat trick and Boston led 4-0.

Drew Royer made a nice pass to Lucas Hurst midway through the second period for another goal.

Boardman made two great diving saves early in the third to maintain a 5-0 lead.

The Lions got power-play goals in the third period from Andrew DeCiantis and Bilac. Cade Wetz scored a backhander into the basket in the final minute of the game for an 8-0 lead.

Joshua Henson stopped 14 shots for Lindenwood's shutout record.

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