The UMass hockey team’s season came to a close in its 2-1 loss to Western Michigan during the Fargo Regional final of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday night in Fargo, North Dakota.

The Broncos — the No.4 overall seed — scored two unanswered, power-play goals to advance to the Frozen Four in St. Louis for the first time in program history. The Minutemen’s single tally came from sophomore forward Dans Locmelis during the first period.

“I think Western Michigan is the No. 1 offensive team in the country and we didn’t give up a 5-on-5 goal,” UMass head coach Greg Carvel said. “Very proud of our group. In January we were a .500 team and tonight, with a little more discipline in our game, maybe we’re headed to the Frozen Four.”

Saturday’s defeat was just the fifth time this season UMass (21-14-5) had been held to one goal or fewer in a game.

Locmelis’ goal occurred near the halfway point of the opening period. The Minutemen were flying from first puck drop as evidenced by the game’s first goal and a 12-5 edge in shots after 20 minutes.

However, a five-minute power play for Western Michigan on a boarding major-penalty from sophomore Aydar Suniev late in the second period turned the tide of the game in favor of the Broncos. Suniev also received a game misconduct penalty, resulting in the forward’s ejection from the game

Liam Valente and Tim Washe each found twine for Western Michigan (32-7-1) on the extended man-advantage, which carried over into period three. UMass got its own chance with a five-minute power play less than a minute after Washe’s go-ahead goal during the final frame, but were unsuccessful, leading to the Broncos’ come-from-behind victory.

“Their power play is good, really good” Carvel said. “That was the whole game to me. We get a five-minute [power play] and we don’t really muster anything so to me, that was the whole game.”

At eight minutes, 50 seconds of the first period, Locmelis’ eighth goal of the season had the Minutemen feeling good during the first on top, 1-0. Locmelis chased down a loose puck in the offensive zone and the Boston Bruins draft pick went backhand-forehand around Western Michigan goalie Hampton Slukynsky and roofed it for the goal. Freshman Daniel Jencko made a heads-up pass to open ice in the o-zone, earning the primary assist.

The Broncos didn’t have much going until the Suniev major power play, which came at 18:13 of the second period, but it only took 21 seconds afterward for Western Michigan to even the score at 1-1.

Valente uncorked a one-time slap shot from the top of the right circle that hummed past UMass goalie Michael Hrabal’s blocker, counting as Valente’s 14th goal of the season.

The Broncos had 3:14 of power play time left to start the third period and needed almost all of it for Washe’s eventual game winner. Western Michigan’s captain redirected a shot from distance (16th goal of the season) from Brian Kramer with 27 seconds left to spare on the lengthy man-advantage, giving the top-seed in the Fargo Regional the 2-1 lead.

“Western Michigan is a very well-coached team,” Carvel said. “We asked a lot about them, every coach was like ‘they’re really good,’ and they’re very well-coached. The goaltender I thought was spectacular tonight. But they were the better team in special teams, but I loved our game tonight. Very proud of our kids.”

Western Michigan proceeded to kill off the Minutemen’s five-minute power play shortly therafter with relative ease, which came as a result of a major elbowing penalty from Iiro Hakkarainen.

UMass’ power play went 0-for-3 while the Broncos were 2-for-4. Both Hrabal and Slukynsky totaled 28 saves.

Junior Cole O’Hara—the Minutemen’s top point producer all season with 51--did not register a point in either game of the Fargo Regional.

The Minutemen, who were playing in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in the past five seasons, will lose all three captains in Linden Alger, Lucas Mercuri and Ryan Lautenbach, plus Joey Musa, to graduation.

“I’m so proud of what we have here at UMass,” Alger said. “The person you are when you walk in on the first day, to the person I am now, you’re completely different. The values we preach and everything that we talk about, we actually bring to life and live it. It’s just such a special place and I’ll forever be so, so proud of what UMass has.”

O’Hara highlights UMass’ list of drafted players who now have the option to sign NHL contracts and turn pro. Locmelis, Suniev, Hrabal, junior Kenny Connors, sophomores Cam O’Neill and Nick Van Tassell and freshman Larry Keenan round out the Minutemen players with NHL rights.