by Alan Babbitt
The top-ranked Hope College ice hockey team skated to a 6-3 victory against ninth-seeded Iowa State University on Friday that put the Flying Dutchmen within one win of the ACHA national semifinals.
Hope (31-1) faces Central Michigan University in the final pool play game on Saturday, March 12, at 7:15 p.m. Central in St. Louis, Mo.
The Flying Dutchmen need a win or a tie to win their pool and advance to the semifinals on Monday, March 14, at 4:15 p.m. Central.
This will be Hope's second game against Central Michigan this season. The Flying Dutchmen won, 6-0, in the Michigan Collegiate Hockey Conference Tournament semifinals on Friday, Feb. 25, at Griff's IceHouse West in Holland Township.
Against Iowa State, Hope never trailed after jumping out to a 3-0 first period lead.
Two power play goals in a span of seven minutes opened the scoring. Junior Colin Stecco and senior Brad Baysore took advantage of extra-man opportunities.
Junior Jack Zwiers closed the first-period scoring burst.
The Flying Dutchmen also received goals from senior Ethan Pinto, senior Brendan Sanders and junior Kevin Healy.
Sanders and Healy both ice the win after Iowa State pulled within a goal 8:42 into the fourth period.
Freshman goalie Maclane Schick made 38 saves.
