The Matadors just didn’t lose, not once in this WCHC season. Coming into playoffs with a perfect 8-0-0 record in the regular season, they breezed through the semi-finals with a win over USD, and came into their 5th consecutive Championship game looking for their 4th consecutive Championship.
From the CSUN Recap:
CSUN became the first team in West Coast Hockey Conference history to not only win four championships but to win them all in a row Sunday with a 4-2 victory over Loyola Marymount.
The Matadors jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first period and never looked back.
Dante Thorn opened the scoring at 10:15 by burying a rebound past Jason Footlick. Geno Norraik doubled the lead at 4:41. Norraik forced a turnover behind the net, skated out and scored through the five hole. Just 57 seconds later Christian Parks also scored five hole with a sharp angle wrist shot.
LMU came out of the dressing room on fire and scored just 34 seconds into the middle frame. Brian Clem scored his fourth goal of the season against CSUN. But the Matadors made sure they had the three goal lead back before the break. Norraik sprung Quentin Abaya up the middle of the ice on a breakaway and Abaya scored over the left shoulder of Footlick.
Just like in its semifinal game against San Diego CSUN ran into trouble in the final period taking three straight penalties. Clem was able to score yet again at 6:24 on the delayed second penalty. The Lions then received a two man advantage shortly after to really make things interesting but the Matadors survived.
Sepe earned the victory in the WCHC Final for the fourth year in a row. Sepe is now 12-0-1-1 overall on the season.
The win gives CSUN the auto bid from the WCHC into the regional tournament. The Matadors will learn exactly where they finished and who they will play later this week.