PITTSBURGH, PA - On Wednesday the No. 4 seeded Chatham University Cougars hosted a men's hockey UCHC postseason game for the first time since 2022. That was also the last time the Cougars won a playoff game. Until tonight. The Cougars bested the No. 5 Nazareth University Golden Flyers in front of a rambunctious crowd the Cougars found late offense after a defensive battle early in the game to win 3-0 with all three goals being scored in the final period.

Chatham improved to 10-14-2, while Nazareth had its season come to an end with a 8-16-2 mark in the final game under legendary head coach George Roll.

Through the first two periods of the game, neither team could find the back of the net. Geno Pichora made highlight reel saves throughout the entire game. He was assisted by 18 total blocks by the Cougars to keep some shots off of him. Both teams put shots on goal early and the Golden Flyers led the shots on goal tally headed to the final period 24-23. Everything changed for the better in the third period.

The third period got started with a bang for the Cougars as Tyler Samodral scored his eighth goal of the season unassisted as he went to the far top corner to beat the Golden Flyer goalie. That gave the Cougars a 1-0 lead. When the Cougars committed a major penalty with 12 ½ minutes remaining in the game, it looked as though the Golden Flyers might make a run. That was silenced when a poor Golden Flyer pass was intercepted by Nick Babbie and he sent it to Nick Cyprian to score the second short handed goal of the season for the Cougars and his 14th of the season. That pushed the lead to 2-0. The Cougars would add a third goal with six minutes left in the game. Evan Mitchell scored his second goal of the season assisted by Brendan Pomerantz. After that the Cougars held off the Golden Flyers as the Cougars won their second playoff game in program history.

The Cougars were led by True Crowe, Bekk McClaine, Dylan Young, Brock Forrest and Carson Grainer who all had two blocks. Pichora made 48 saves on 48 shots faced to put up his second shutout of the season. 

The Cougars advanced to the UCHC Semifinals on Saturday March 1st at 7 PM in Utica, N.Y. when they will play top-seeded Utica.