DaytonDailyNews.com

OXFORD — The history-making Miami University hockey players and coaches were greeted outside Goggin Ice Center Sunday, March 29, by prolonged cheers from about 100 hardy fans who braved cold, rain and snow to welcome the team home from its triumphant trip to the NCAA West Regional tournament.

"I'm extremely excited," said Molly Farler, of Oxford. "It's unbelievable. They played like they haven't all year long. They were on fire."

The RedHawks clinched the program's first-ever berth in the Frozen Four — college hockey's version of basketball's Final Four — when they defeated Minnesota-Duluth 2-1 in the regional championship game in Minneapolis Saturday night, March 28.

Miami will play in the national semifinals at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, April 9 against the winner of Sunday's Midwest Regional final between Cornell and Bimidji State. The semifinal winner will advance to the national championship game Saturday, April 11.

Taylor Holt, a Miami junior from Kansas City, Mo., was there to greet the RedHawks while taking a break from exam. "This was supposed to be a rebuilding year," he said. "It's a great thing for the program."

"It's awesome," said Michael Beirne, a Miami junior from Lexington, Ky. "The success they've had is incredible."

Miami's coaches and players were visibly touched by the reception.

"That was pretty cool," Miami head coach Enrico Blasi said. "Just for fans to be there in the rain and to welcome us home, that was special."

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.