St. Louis, Mo. – It wasn't always pretty, but Minnesota Crookston hockey is just one win away from Boston. Minnesota Crookston got two goals in the third period and outstanding goaltending from Jared Aamold (So., G, Breckenridge, Minn.) for a 3-1 victory over Michigan State.
 
Minnesota Crookston will now take on the University of Iowa tomorrow afternoon at 12:30 P.M. The winner punches their ticket to Boston in three weeks.
 
Playing in their first ever Central Region Tournament, the Golden Eagles would try to tilt the ice their way.
 
At the 7:41 mark of the opening period, Minnesota Crookston would break the ice and score first. Jackson Fuller (So., F, Minneapolis, Minn.) found a juicy rebound and put one past Aidan Kingbeil.
 
Less than three minutes later, Brendan Murphy, the Spartans leading scorer would get one past Aamold to knot things up at one.
 
That 1-1 score is how the first period would end.
 
The second period would be tilted the way of the Spartans, but Aamold was outstanding.
 
Tied at one in the third period, Tristan Morneault (Jr., F, Dieppe, New Brunswick) would score the largest goal of the season. Morneault would be all alone in the middle of the ice and put one just past the left shoulder of Kingbeil for a 2-1 lead.
 
That goal would stand. The Spartans would have to pull their goalie with less than two minutes to go and got a huge block from Connor Thoennes (Fr., F, Coleraine, Minn.) to help preserve the lead.
 
Fuller would score his second of the night on the empty net to send the Golden Eagles to victory.
 
Aamold was the story. The sophomore made 34 saves, including 13 huge saves in the third period and earned his 10^th win of the season.
 
Minnesota Crookston was disciplined as well, going to the penalty box just once in the evening.
 
What's Next
The Golden Eagles will look to punch their ticket to Nationals tomorrow afternoon against the Hawkeyes of the University of Iowa. Puck Drop is set for 12:30 P.M., from Chesterfield, Mo.