Middlebury claimed its first Division III Men's Ice Hockey Championship since 1999 with a 1-0 overtime win against St. Norbert March 20 in front of a sellout crowd at Norwich.

The only goal of the game came at 2:58 in overtime as Kevin Cooper knocked home the rebound of Brian Phinney's shot, giving the Panthers the victory. It was Cooper's 99th career goal.

"It just happens in game like this," said Cooper. "A bounce can decide it and the puck just bounced to me. The puck has been bouncing that way for me all season."

"It's a tribute to our group that they persevered," said Middlebury coach Bill Beaney. "It didn't come easy tonight, and everyone knows it certainly didn't come without an awful lot of work last night. We had the things that you need to win hockey games: great goaltending, opportunistic scoring and guys who believed."

Middlebury battled through two overtimes against Norwich in the semifinals before posting a 3-2 victory. St. Norbert defeated Plattsburgh State, 4-1, to reach the finals.

"We had some good looks, but unfortunately it came down to one play," said St. Norbert captain Mike Buchan.

The two teams battled back and forth, with Middlebury outshooting St. Norbert, 33-29. The Panthers racked up three penalties for six minutes, while the Green Knights had five penalties for 10 minutes. Middlebury had four power plays in the game, compared to St. Norbert's two.

Middlebury's players and coaches credited goalie Marc Scheuer for much of their win.

"Marc has been the backbone of our team throughout the playoff run," said Middlebury captain John Dawson. "He may be small, but he's quick and he gets every puck."

Middlebury finished its season 27-3, while St. Norbert completed a 27-3-2 campaign.

First round

At River Falls, Wisconsin --Wisconsin-River Falls 3, St. Thomas (Minn.) 2 (ot).

Second round

At Green Bay, Wisconsin -- St. Norbert 3, Wisconsin-River Falls 0.

At Plattsburgh, N.Y. -- Plattsburgh St. 5, Curry 4.

At Northfield, Vermont -- Norwich 9, Hobart 5.

At Middlebury, Vermont -- Middlebury 9, Wentworth Inst. 1.

Semifinals

Middlebury 3, Norwich 2 (2 ot)

First period: N -- Kurtis McLean (Mario Chinelli, Paul Mattuci), 0:15; N -- Andrew Senesi (Phil Aucoin), 11:22.

Penalties: M -- Patrick Nugent (tripping), 17:41; N -- Garett Widner (contact to the head), 18:24.

Second period: M -- John Sales (Shady Young, Darwin Hunt), 15:01.

Penalties: M -- Sales (cross-checking), 3:47; N -- Brian Mullally (slashing), 5:05; N--Mullally (cross-checking, unsportsmanlike conduct), 9:16; M -- Evgeny Saidachev (unsportsmanlike conduct), 9:16; M -- Nugent (cross checking), 18:25.

Third period: M -- Kevin Cooper (Brian Phinney), 14:13.

Penalties: M -- Scott Ward (hitting from behind), 10:03.

First overtime: No scoring

Penalties: M -- Brett Shirreffs (high sticking), 15:27.

Second overtime: M -- Levi Doria (John Dawson, Nugent), 7:17.

Penalties: None.

Saves: Kevin Schieve (Norwich), 44; Marc Scheuer (Middlebury), 44.

St. Norbert 4, Plattsburgh 1

First period: P -- Justin Rafferty (Ryan Busby), 18:19.

Penalties: P -- Joe Carpinone (contact to the head), 1:30.

Second period: SN -- Jason Deitsch (Spencer Carbery, Andy Cote), 12:18; SN -- Connor Hughes (Ryan Tew, Deitsch), 16:37 (pp).

Penalties: SN -- Tew (interference), 0:23; P -- Jayson Barnhart (tripping), 14:46; P - Chad Kemp (slashing), 15:46; SN -- Kelly Wosnack (slashing), 15:46; SN -- Sheldon Wing (interference), 16:48.

Third period: SN -- Jon Schultz (Hughes), 16:23; SN -- Carbery (Jeremy Mitchell), 19:09.

Penalties: SN -- Tew (interference), 9:51.

Saves: Craig Neilsen (Plattsburgh), 30; Chancy Colquhoun (St. Norbert), 22.

Championship game

Middlebury 1, St. Norbert 0 (ot)

First period: No scoring.

Penalties: SN -- Troy Boisjoli (interference), 2:35; M -- Brian Phinney (obstruction holding) 9:40; SN -- Jon Schultz (hitting after whistle), 20:00; M -- Kevin Cooper (hitting after whistle), 20:00.

Second period: No scoring.

Penalties: M -- Patrick Nugent (cross-checking), 11:53; SN -- Orrin Hergot (obstruction tripping), 13:59.

Third period: No scoring.

Penalties: SN -- Jeremy Mitchell (goaltender interference), 1:49; SN -- Tyler Gow (tripping), 8:31.

Overtime: M -- Kevin Cooper (Phinney, Mike Kennedy), 2:58.

Penalties: None.

Shots on goal: Middlebury 33, St. Norbert 29. Saves: Chancy Colquhoun (St. Norbert) 32; Marc Scheuer (Middlebury) 29.

Officials: Ed Zepeda, Ed O'Brien. Attendance: 2,200.