MSU Alumni Club of the San Francisco Bay Area

Michigan State went into Saturday’s Frozen Four championship game against Boston College as a huge underdog - and for good reasons.

The high-powered Eagles brought in a 13-game winning streak and, simply put, had the edge in speed, skill and overall talent.

The Spartans, however, were on a great playoff run of their own, built on great chemistry and heart.

Today, the hard-working, gritty Spartans are celebrating a national championship.

And the Eagles are trying to figure out what happened.

MSU’s patience and coolness paid off in a dramatic come-from-behind 3-1 victory over the Eagles on Saturday night in front of an NCAA record crowd of 19,432 at the Scottrade Center.

“It’s a surreal moment. I’m really proud of these guys and our staff and I wish everyone could have this feeling right now,” senior captain Chris Lawrence said, clutching the NCAA championship trophy in the Spartans’ dressing room.

Justin Abdelkader’s goal from the edge of the crease, off a perfect pass from linemate Tim Kennedy, broke a 1-1 tie with 18.9 seconds left in the game.

The goal came seconds after Abdelkader hit the right post on a 3-on-1 break. The puck went behind the net and bounced up the right boards, where defenseman Tyler Howells shot it back behind to Kennedy, who slid it out front.

“I was coming from the circle, angling toward the slot area and Kennedy gave me a perfect pass,” Abdelkader. “I got a shot off, blocker side and it was awesome.”

With BC goaltender Cory Schneider off for an extra attacker, the Spartans cleared the puck out of the defensive zone after the ensuing faceoff.

Chris Mueller scored into an empty net with two seconds left to clinch the victory and ignite a wild celebration around goalie Jeff Lerg.

“It’s amazing. Unreal,” smiled MSU coach Rick Comley. “Every team that wins something gives up individual goals and puts team goals ahead of it, and that’s what happened with this team.

“I really have to thank Ron Mason. The last five years have not been easy, but I knew when I came to Michigan State, I thought his greatest strength was his friendship and loyalty,” Comley said of MSU athletic director Ron Mason, who hired Comley to lead the program in 2001.