BEMIDJI, Minn. (John S. Glas Fieldhouse) -- The hallowed John S. Glas Fieldhouse has been the site of nearly 700 Bemidji State University men’s ice hockey games and countless championship contest during its 42-year history, but before all is said and done and Vance swings the Zamboni door closed one last time, this one may be remembered as one of the greatest.

With the score locked at 2-2 through the full 60 minutes of regulation time, the Beavers and College Hockey America rival Robert Morris University opened a 20-minute sudden death overtime session with the 2009 CHA Tournament Championship, and more importantly a bid to the NCAA Tournament, on the line.

The Beavers have a storied national championship tradition at all levels of collegiate hockey and yearned for a return trip to the big dance after punching their tickets in 2005 and 2006, while the Colonials were desperately searching for their first tournament berth.

After 68:05 of edge-of-your-seat drama, it was BSU’s top scorer Matt Read (So., F, Ilderton, Ontario) that won the face off, charged the net and put a Ryan Adams (So., D, Deloraine, Manitoba) rebound into the back of the net for a 3-2 overtime victory, Saturday in front of 1,962 at The Glas, to confirm the Beavers’ reservation for the national tournament field of 16.

“First of all, I don’t think we could have dreamt of having a better game tonight. It could have gone either way – we were just fortunate to get that last bounce,” commented head coach Tom Serratore during his comments in the post game press conference. “Being able to do this at home just makes it that much sweeter.”

The Colonials were the first to light the scoreboard, netting an even-strength marker at the 3:52 mark of the first period. Trapped in their own zone, Tyler Jundt (Fr., D, Williston, N.D.) lost his stick in the corner and despite diving to block the Ron Cramer shot, the RMU forward lifted the puck over the defenseman and past BSU goaltender Matt Dalton (So., G, Clinton, Ontario).

Bemidji State got a power-play goal from Tyler Scofield (Sr., F, Prince George, British Columbia) to tie the score and ignite the BSU faithful with just 30-seconds remaining in the period. It was Read that found Scofield rushing the net and the senior playmaker threaded a his team-leading 18th goal of the season over the stick of Brooks Ostergard and under the cross bar. The goal came just 24-seconds into the Beavers’ second power-play opportunity of the evening and propelled the team into the dressing room with score knotted at one apiece.

Read willed the Beavers to their first lead of the night, 2-1, 14:08 into the second period. After buzzing a shot past Ostergard and off the post, a Scofield rebound squirted to the left pipe and Read was there to bury it.

But the lead was short lived. Just when Bemidji State seemed to have momentum rolling in its favor, the team was tagged for two penalties giving the Colonials a 4-on-3 advantage for 1:28. It took CHA scoring champion Chris Margott just 22-seconds to even the score at 2-2. He rifled a shot from the point that found the five hole at the 18:47 mark.

From that point on, the goaltenders were pushed to center stage. Ostergard stood in front of 14 shots in the third period alone and another six in the overtime stanza, while Dalton stopped eight in the final 28:05.

A rush in either direction either brought the crowd to its feet or turned its stomach and planted a lump in its throat.

Ultimately the score remained locked at 2-2 through the final 20 minutes of regulation setting the stage for the tremendous overtime finish.

Read posted his second career multi-goal game--and the second in as many nights--en route to All-Tournament and Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors. He was joined on the All-Tournament team by teammates Scofield, Brad Hunt (Fr., D, Ridge Meadows, British Columbia) and Dalton.

Dalton finished the night with 29 saves, including 15 in the second period alone, to improve his record to 17-10-1 on the season and bump his BSU Division I-era record for goaltender wins up another victory.

Ostergard posted 37 saves but was tagged for all three of the Beavers’ goals and falls to 5-3-3 overall.

The berth in the 2009 NCAA Tournament marks the Beavers’ third trip to the Division I event and the 29th year of posts season play.

Bemidji State, 18-15-1 overall, now awaits the location and its opponent for the March 27-28 regional. The nationally televised NCAA Hockey Selection Show is scheduled for ESPN2 Sunday March 22 at 11:30 a.m.