March 25, 2006
East Regional | First Round
Little Lerg Leads the Spartans

By Ken McMillan

NCAA Tournament 1-0 Games in History

1967: Cornell 1, North Dakota 0 1971: Denver 1, Harvard 0 2003: Boston College 1, Ohio State 0 2004: Denver 1, North Dakota 0 2004: Wisconsin 1, Ohio State 0 2004: Denver 1, Maine 0 2005: Minnesota 1, Maine 0 2006: Michigan State 1, New Hampshire 0

More Coverage

Maine, Michigan State advance in East

ALBANY, N.Y. – Jeff Lerg is out to prove that size does not matter when it comes to the job of stopping pucks.

The smallest goalie in NCAA Division I came up huge on hockey's biggest stage, pitching the eighth 1-0 shutout in NCAA tourney history as Michigan State disposed of New Hampshire in an East Regional semifinal at Pepsi Arena.

"It is an unbelievable feeling just being here,'' Lerg said. "Especially getting the win and to add the shutout on top of it, things kind of went perfect for me today.''

Lerg made 36 saves, perhaps none bigger than his post-to-post lunge to deny UNH's Brett Hemingway on a Wildcats power play early in the third period, preserving the Spartans' 1-0 lead.

"It was a huge save at that point,'' said UNH coach Dick Umile.

UNH's Jacob Micflikier was five feet in front and to the left of Lerg. The freshman netminder correctly guessed Micflikier would pass the puck since he had his head down, and he threw his right leg across the crease to cover the far post. Sure enough, the puck zipped across the blue-painted crease and Hemingway fired a puck into Lerg's pads.

"I just knew I had to get my foot to the post, and it's a good thing he didn't get it up over me,'' said Lerg, who practices those post-to-post moves at least three times a week. "It was definitely a great feeling.''

The shutout was the third for Lerg this season, and the first in 52 NCAA tourney games for Michigan State dating back to 1959.

"It hasn't sunk in now,'' Lerg said. "We took it as another game, although it's a huge deal at the NCAA tournament.''

Standing 5 feet, 5 1/2 inches tall, Lerg did not receive a whole lot of recruiting attention despite putting up impressive numbers for the Omaha Lancers in the United States Hockey League. Even Michigan State coach Rick Comley had his doubts upon first review before signing Lerg as his "goalie of the future'' – only, no one told Lerg that he was expected to ride the bench behind two-year starter Dominic Vicari.

"I came in here expecting to play and expecting to compete for playing time,'' Lerg said.

Lerg made eight starts and two relief appearances in the first semester. Lerg earned the starting job in January and the Spartans rode his hot hand. Michigan State is 17-3-3 since the New Year and has won its last five playoff games.

"Our team was struggling, Jeff got his opportunity and he hasn't given it up,'' Comley said. "Am I surprised? No. Did I think it would be this early? No.''

Comley said Lerg is technically sound. He squares himself on shots, he finds the puck through traffic, he controls the puck and he cleans up action around his net better than anyone Comley has seen.

"He's the smallest guy on the ice,'' said teammate Tim Kennedy, "but he plays like he's 6-2 because there's nowhere to score on him – at least that's what it seems like in practice.''

Lerg was voted the CCHA Rookie of the Year and earned the CCHA Tournament Most Valuable Player award. His 1.95 goals-against average heading into the regional semifinal was third-best in the nation, his .927 save percentage the sixth-best mark.

Playing in his first NCAA tourney game, Lerg said he treated it just like any other contest.

"My goal when I go in there is to make all the saves I am supposed to,'' he said, "and if I can get my team two or three more big ones, then I give my team a chance to win. That's what happened today.''

Added Comley: "If he has (nerves), he doesn't show it. I think because he prepares so thoroughly. He goes out and plays the position exactly the way it needs to be played.''

Lerg said his team did a good job of keeping open the shooting lanes and clearing the few rebounds that he allowed.

Michigan State is accustomed to playing close games, and Lerg has been in the middle of it – he owns a 10-4-6 record in games decided by one goal or fewer.

"He's one of the best around,'' praised UNH captain Brian Yandle, who managed the last shot on Lerg with 15 seconds remaining in the midst of a wild scramble. "He played great. We knew he was a great goaltender and has definitely carried this team on his back. He's going to be tough to beat and he's been tough to beat down the stretch.''