By MIKE NADEL
AP Sports Writer
   ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- J.P. McKersie made 31 saves
Thursday night, leading Boston University to a 4-1
victory over Minnesota and helping the Terriers reach
the NCAA hockey title game for the seventh time.
   Boston (32-7-1), seeking its fourth championship but
first since 1978, will meet Lake Superior State on
Saturday night. The Lakers (30-10-4) advanced with a
3-2 overtime victory over Harvard earlier Thursday.
   Minnesota (25-13-4) won the 1979 title under Herb
Brooks, who then left to coach the U.S. Olympic team.
The Gophers have been back to the NCAA tournament
13 times since but are still looking for their fourth
championship.
   It was the 12th straight victory for the Terriers,
who built a 3-0 first-period lead on goals by Bob
Lachance, Mike Pomichter and Steve Thornton. Pomichter
added a third-period goal.
   The last time Boston played at the St. Paul Civic
Center, in the 1991 title game, it also led 3-0 after
one but ended up losing in triple-overtime to
Northern Michigan.
   This time, the Terriers held on even though Minnesota
took the first 11 shots of the second period and
outshot BU 26-16 in the final two periods.
   McKersie was the main reason. In the second period,
he stopped 14 shots, held the Gophers scorless during
three power plays and allowed only Bobby Dustin's
goal.
   Despite his performance, McKersie is expected to
be on the bench Saturday. Terriers coach Jack Parker
rotates goalies, and it's Derek Herlofsky's turn
next.
   Doug Friedman, the only BU player who skated for
the 1991 runner-up team, set up the game's first goal
at 9:14. He gained control of a loose puck near
Minnesota's blue line and made a quick pass to Lachance,
who beat goalie Jeff Callinan with a backhander.
   Pomichter has a team-high 28 goals this season. He
has seven multiple-goal games.
 
Minnesota 0 1 0--1
Boston U. 3 0 1--4
   First Period--1, Boston U., Lachance (Freidman), 9:14. 2,
Boston U., Pomichter (O'Sullivan, Wood), 12:07. 3, Boston U.,
Thornton (Brennan, O'Sullivan), 18:43 (pp). Penalties--Johnson,
BU (tripping), 12:53; Wackman, Min (high-sticking), 15:14;
Trebil, Min (hooking), 18:15.
   Second Period--4, Minnesota, Dustin (Lafleur), 4:15.
Penalties--Wood, Bos (holding stick), 1:39; Brennan, Bos
(interference), 4:42; O'Sullivan, Bos (holding), 14:18.
   Third Period--5, Boston U., Pomichter (Lachance, Joubert),
14:12. Penalties--None.
   Shots on goal--Minnesota 6-15-11--32. Boston U. 17-5-11--33.
   Power-play Opportunities--Minnesota 0 of 4; Boston U. 1 of 2.
  Goalies--Minnesota, Callinan (33 shots-29 saves). Boston U.,
McKersie (32-31).
   A--16,085.
   Referees--Steve Piotrowski, Matt Shegos. Linesman--John Kelly.
 
 
 
 
 
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