Uncommon wealth

The upstart Miami University RedHawks had a 3-1 lead and for much of the game had executed their game plan. Miami was trying to win its first national title in any sport and wanted to convert its first visit to the Frozen Four into the ultimate prize.

But BU has thrived on challenges all season. The Terriers reached deep and scored a pair of goals in the final minute to force overtime. With 59.5 seconds left, junior left wing Zach Cohen lifted a backhand shot inside the left post to pull BU to within one. And with 17.4 ticks left, sophomore center Nick Bo nino took a pass from senior defenseman Matt Gilroy and ripped a shot from the right circle that sailed past the glove of freshman netminder Cody Reichard. On to the extra session.

Then, the biggest hero of the night - sophomore defenseman Colby Cohen - ended it. At 11:47 of overtime, Cohen teed up a slapper from the left circle that Miami senior defenseman Kevin Roeder attempted to block. Problem was, the puck bounced off Roeder's leg pads and popped high in the air, sailing over Reichard's shoulder and finding an opening just inside the right post. BU began its celebration amid a collection of stunned RedHawks.

The 4-3 victory marks the fifth men's hockey championship in BU history and the first since 1995. BU's 35 victories (35-6-4) are the most in school history. The Terriers end the season a remarkable 28-2-4 since Nov. 25.

Coach Jack Parker said the finish alone made it an unbelievable game.

"It's the greatest comeback I've been involved in," said Parker, who became the first Division 1 coach to earn 30 NCAA tournament victories, pulling ahead of BC coach Jerry York. "The second-greatest comeback I've ever been involved in, we lost. We lost the 1991 championship [to Northern Michigan]. After being down by three goals, we came back, tied it up late in the third period, and went to triple overtime before we finally lost the game. We won [this] game because big-time players made big-time plays."

It was even through the first 40 minutes with BU striking in the opening period and the RedHawks tying it in the second.

Both tallies came at even strength. At 15:15 of the first, freshman left wing Chris Connolly scored off a rebound for his 10th goal of the season. Freshman defenseman David Warsofsky shot the puck toward the net from the left point. It caromed off Miami freshman Trent Vogelhuber in front and bounced off Reichard's pads. Reichard tried to grab the puck and freeze it but Connolly swept in from outside the right post and buried a shot to make it 1-0.

The RedHawks pulled even at 2:01 of the second during a scramble in front. Junior right wing Jarod Palmer took the initial shot that freshman goalie Kieran Millan stopped. Millan tried to corral the puck with his glove but it pinballed out to sophomore center Andy Miele. It went off Miele's skate and over to junior left wing Gary Steffes in front. Steffes rapped a shot home from just outside the left post to Millan's stick side and it was all square.

The RedHawks had a prime opportunity to take the lead a minute or so later when senior left wing Justin Mercier flung the puck at the net from just outside the right post but his bid rattled off the left post.

The third period was the most dramatic of the season. Sophomore right wing Tommy Wingels beat Millan at 12:31 and then Vogelhuber's tally at 15:52 made BU's comeback chances seem all the more far-fetched.

However, the Terriers converted twice with Millan off for an extra attacker to force overtime.

For the Miami coaching staff and players, to be so close to a dream and lose it was devastating.

"Somebody's got to lose and unfortunately it wasn't meant to be for us," said RedHawks coach Enrico Blasi. "I'm so proud of the way our guys played, right into overtime. What the boys did this week, the last couple of weeks, is they made history. No other team in Miami history has ever gone to a semifinal. No other team has played for a national championship. And we've done that."

Nancy Marrapese-Burrell can be reached at marrapese@globe.com.