McCloy Nets Second Straight Hat Trick to Send Men's NCAA to Harris Cup Final

Another stellar performance from senior assistant captain Taylor McCloy would have the Bulldogs headed to their 10th Harris Cup Final in program history this Saturday afternoon.

McCloy would start things off on the powerplay at the 2:54 mark of the first period off of assists from Mat Thompson and Cory Dunn. Kyle Brothers would send home the Bulldogs' second powerplay goal of the afternoon with assists from Dunn and McCloy. McCloy would add a second goal in the first with 35 seconds remaining in the period to give the Bulldogs the 3-0 lead after one. Dean Hewines and Brothers would assist on McCloy's second of the game.

Bud Madej's first of both the playoffs and the 2017-18 season would put the Bulldogs up 4-0 in the middle frame. Ryan Cusin and Hewines would add assists. McCloy would pick up his third of the afternoon to complete his second consecutive hat trick at the 16:54 mark of the second period. Thompson and Matt McNair would pick up assists. After two, the Bulldogs held a 5-0 lead.

The home team would explode in the third period. Austin Rust would score the first of the flurry of third period goals at the 2:08 mark of the third period. Hewines and Trevor Boyd would pick up the assists. Thompson would pick up a powerplay goal of his own at the 7:16 mark of the third period off of an unassisted effort. Nick Erb would pick up his first of the playoffs two and a half minutes later. McNair and McCloy would tally assists on Erb's goal. Braden Hellems would pick off a pass from McCloy with 10:30 gone in the third period to snag his first of the playoffs and the 9th goal of the game. McCloy and Brothers would notch assists.

Kevin Entmaa would play 46:06 of the game with Dillon Kelley playing the other 13:54 of the contest. Entmaa would turn away all 18 shots faced to pick up the win and Kelley would stop all 4 sent his way.

With the win, the Bulldogs advance to their 10th Harris Cup Final game next Saturday at Arrington Ice Arena.