And after allowing defending national champion North Dakota to score twice in the last 3:42 of regulation of this year's title game, the snake-bitten Eagles looked to be on their way to a fourth frustration.

Instead, coach Jerry York rallied his players and reminded them how close they've been in the past, and perhaps more importantly, what it would feel like to win the big one.

The motivational speech worked, as Boston College's Krys Kolanos scored at 4:43 of overtime to send the Eagles to a 3-2 victory April 7 and give them their second Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship.

"I told the guys to think about how tremendous it is going to feel to win this one in overtime," said York, who became the second coach to lead two teams to Division I championships. "They responded."

The title, won at Albany's Pepsi Center, was Boston College's first in any sport since the 1949 hockey crown.

"That's a move I practice quite often," Kolanos said. "I guess you'd have to say it's my bread and butter."

Boston College's recent string of misfortune started in 1998 with an overtime loss in the title game to Michigan. The Eagles fell to Maine in overtime in the 1999 semifinals and lost to North Dakota in last season's championship game. Boston College beat those three teams in succession in this year's tournament.

"It's just a hard experience to describe," said York, who has resurrected the Eagles since taking over in 1994. "We're close to grabbing it, and to see it just disappear in an eyelash. (Winning the championship) talks to our mental toughness."

Boston College freshman Chuck Kobasew started the scoring with a power-play goal at 5:26 of the second period. Mike Lephart added a goal at 8:50 of the second period, and goaltender Scott Clemmensen spearheaded a stingy Eagles defense.

"We weren't going to roll over and just give up," said North Dakota coach Dean Blais. "We got a little bit of a break with four minutes to go."

That break came after Boston College was penalized for having too many men on the ice with slightly more than four minutes left. When senior Brian Gionta broke his stick, he went to the bench for another, but a Boston College player thought he was coming off and jumped on the ice, causing the infraction.

With nothing to lose, Blais pulled Goehring to give North Dakota a two-man advantage. The move paid off when Tim Skarperud deflected Travis Roche's slap shot from the top of the slot past Clemmensen with 3:42 left.

But as in past years, this game would have its challenges. David Lundbohm won a crucial faceoff in the Eagles' end and got the puck back to the point to Aaron Schneekloth, whose shot through a maze of players was deflected in by Wes Dorey with 36 seconds left, forcing overtime.

"Everyone was down a little bit the first couple of minutes of overtime," Boston College's Tony Voce said. "But everyone was like, 'This is our year. We're not losing, no matter what.' "

So, when Kolanos buried the puck in overtime, the years of frustration prompted several standing ovations from the partisan Boston College crowd.

"I think it's pretty amazing after all we've faced to win it this way," Gionta said. "There aren't too many times you can go out on top. This is the best feeling and I'm so proud to be a part of it."

Kobasew was named the tournament's most outstanding player. Joining him on the all-tournament team were teammates Kolanos, Clemmensen and Rob Scuderi, and North Dakota's Lundbohm and Roche.

SEMIFINALS

North Dakota 2, Michigan St. 0

Penalties: ND -- David Hale (interference), 7:17; MS -- Tim Hearon (interference), 14:57; MS -- Rustyn Dolyny (roughing), 16:08; ND -- Travis Roche (holding), 19:39.

Penalties: None.

Penalties: ND -- Chad Mazurak (holding), 13:41; ND -- Mazurak (unsportsmanlike conduct), 19:59; MS -- Dolyny (roughing), 19:59.

Shots on goal: North Dakota -- 36 (17-12-7); Michigan St. -- 30 (7-8-15). Saves: Morth Dakota -- Karl Goehring, 30; Michigan St. -- Ryan Miller, 34. Penalties: North Dakota -- 4 for 8 min.; Michigan St. -- 3 for 6 min. Power plays: North Dakota -- 1 for 3; Michigan St. -- 0 for 4. Officials: Referee -- Mike Schmitt; Assistant referees -- Bill Jones, Matt Smith. Attendance: 13,252.

Boston College 4, Michigan 2

Penalties: M -- Mike Cammalleri (holding), 12:58; BC -- Brian Gionta (tripping), 16:28.

Penalties: BC -- Tony Voce (cross-checking), 6:47; BC -- Ales Dolinar (hitting after whistle), 8:50; M -- Josh Langfeld (hitting after whistle), 8:50; M -- Mike Komisarek (roughing), 10:04; BC -- Brooks Orpik (holding), 13:19; M -- Scott Matzka (roughing), 13:19.

Penalties: none.

Shots on goal: Boston College -- 36 (14-9-13); Michigan -- 33 (10-9-14). Saves: Boston College -- Scott Clemmensen, 31; Michigan -- Josh Blackburn, 32 (12-8-12). Penalties: Boston College -- 4 for 8 min.; Michigan -- 4 for 8 min. Power plays: Boston College -- 2 for 2; Michigan -- 0 for 2. Officials -- Referee: Steve Piotrowski; Assistant referees -- Randy Schmidt, Dan Carey. Attendance: 13,252

CHAMPIONSHIP

Boston College 3, North Dakota 2 (ot)

Penalties: ND -- David Hale (cross-checking), 2:49; BC -- Brett Peterson (interference), 8:32; BC -- Krys Kolanos (interference with the goaltender), 12:20; ND -- Jason Notermann (hooking) 14:02.

Penalties: ND -- Aaron Schneekloth (hooking) , 4:27; BC -- Mike Lephart (hooking), 12:45; BC -- Tony Voce (hooking), 14:49; ND -- Schneekloth (tripping), 16:10.

Penalties: BC -- Forrest (tripping), :49; ND -- Kevin Spiewak (slashing), 1:34; ND -- David Lundbohm (hooking), 2:51; BC -- Brooks Orpik (interference), 11:06; ND -- Tim Skarperud (slashing), 13:31; BC -- Too many men on the ice (served by A.J. Walker), 15:07.

Penalties: none.

Shots on goal: North Dakota -- 37 (9-9-16-3); Boston College -- 31 (9-12-7-3). Saves: North Dakota -- Karl Goehring, 28; Boston College -- Scott Clemmensen, 35 . Penalties: North Dakota -- 7 for 14 min.; Boston College -- 7 for 14 min. Power Plays: North Dakota -- 1 for 7; Boston College -- 1 for 7. Officials: Referee -- Mike Schmitt; Assistant referees -- Bill Jones, Matt Smith. Attendance: 13,667.