LAKE PLACID, N.Y. --- Norwich University and Oswego State University both find themselves in familiar territory, in the NCAA division III men’s ice hockey national championship semi-finals, while Utica College and Wisconsin-Eau Clair each make their first-ever run at the Frozen Four.

Norwich University (24-3-1) blanked 10^th ranked Babson College 4-0 in their NCAA championship tournament quarterfinal match-up last night.  The second ranked Cadets had lost their three previous games against the Beavers, including last week when they fell 2-1 in the ECAC East championship game.  The win pushed Norwich into the semi-finals for the fourth consecutive year, also their 11^th trip in the last 17 seasons, where they will face Oswego, Friday, March 15, in Lake Placid, N.Y., at 4 p.m.

The number-three Lakers (24-4-0) are also headed back to the NCAA division III men’s ice hockey semi-finals for a fourth straight season.  Oswego State skated past the nation’s sixth ranked team Adrian College 3-2 and snapped the Bulldogs 17-game winning streak.  They also outshot their hosts 55-33.

Seventh ranked Utica College (21-5-1) came back from two goals down to double up fifth ranked Bowdoin, 4-2.  The Pioneers spotted the Polar Bears two first period goals before bouncing back with a three goal third period. 

Utica will now face Wisconsin-Eau Clair, at 7:30 p.m., in Friday night’s second semi-final contest.  Utica has never skated against the fourth ranked Bluegold in the program’s 12 year history. 

Wisconsin-Eau Clair (26-5-2) earned their first trip to the Frozen Four by upsetting topped ranked and two-time defending national champions St. Norbert 3-1.  The victory avenged last week’s Peters Cup championship loss to the Green Knights.  This was the fourth meeting between the two schools this season, splitting the season-series at two games apiece.

Friday night’s winners will move on to Saturday’s championship game, slated for 7 p.m., in the famed Olympic center’s 1980 Rink Herb Brooks Arena.  Tickets for the 2013 NCAA division III men’s ice hockey championships, co-hosted by Plattsburgh State University College (PSUC) and the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA), are on sale now. Tickets are available on line by visiting http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?organ_val=2439, by calling the Olympic center box office, 518-523-3330, or by stopping by the center’s box office, 2634 Main St., Lake Placid. All three games will also be streamed live on-line on NCAA.Com.

Media Advisory: Credential requests for the semi-finals and championship games are now being accepted. To apply, please visit http://www.ncaa.com/media. All media attending the NCAA championship event must be credentialed. If you have any questions, please contact Jon Lundin, ORDA public relations, e-mail: jlundin@orda.org, Tel: 518-523-1655 ext. 5313.

-- ORDA --

Established in 1982, the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) was created by the State of New York to manage the facilities used during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid. ORDA operates Whiteface, Belleayre and Gore Mountain ski areas; the Olympic Sports Complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg; the Olympic speed skating oval, Olympic jumping complex and Olympic arena. As host to international and national championships, the Authority has brought millions of athletes, spectator and participants to the region, resulting in significant economic development.