By Staff
ST. LOUIS – For the first time in 21 years, the Michigan State hockey team claimed an NCAA championship on Saturday night.
The Spartans defeated Boston College 3-1 to win the title.
Justin Abdelkader scored with 18.9 seconds remaining to snap a 1-1 tie and give the Spartans the long-awaited crown. Michigan State added an empty-net goal with 1.2 seconds remaining to complete the scoring.
Michigan State's Tim Kennedy, who set up the winning goal, tied the game at 1-1 midway through the third period.
Boston College's lone goal came off the stick of Brian Boyle in the second period.
The Eagles end the year at 29-11-2. Boston College lost in the championship game for the second straight year and to a Big Ten team in as many chances.
Wisconsin defeated Boston College last year.
The Spartans' Jeff Lerg had 29 saves as Michigan State finishes its 2006-07 campaign with a 26-13-3 record. The Spartans were a No. 3 seed in the Midwest Region when the tournament began.
Chris Mueller scored the third goal for the Spartans.
The championship was the second for MSU head coach Rick Comley, who led Northern Michigan to the 1991 title. He becomes only the third coach, along with Boston College's Jerry York, to win NCAA hockey titles with two different schools.