Nothing comes easy in the postseason.
The top-seeded Denver Pioneers persevered and got what turned out to be the game-winning goal from Cameron Wright with 2:57 remaining in the third period and defeated the 4th-seeded UMass-Lowell River Hawks in the West Regional Semifinals on Thursday night at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland.
The River Hawks grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first period before the Pioneers answered on a goal by Brett Stapley at 18:36 of the first period. Carter Savoie put Denver up 2-1 at 9:36 of the third period before the River Hawks tied the game with a goal about nearly five minutes later.
All that remained was Wright's heroics late in the game.
DU goalie Magnus Chrona made 16 saves.
The win moves DU's record to 28-9-1.
MORE ON THE DU WIN HERE
Denver moves on to the regional final and will play the 2nd-seeded Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs on Saturday, March 26 at 2 p.m. MDT.
Click/tap on the photo below for postgame comments from DU head coach David Carle and forwards Cameron Wright and Carter Savoie.
Click/tap on the picture below for highlights of DU's 3-2 win over UMass-Lowell in the NCAA regional semifinals.