Craving the program's first NCAA tournament victory in six years, our Colorado College Tigers let loose with a mighty roar on Friday. 

CC stunned defending national champion Boston College with three goals within a span of 3:28 early in the game, added its first of two shorthanded tallies late in the first period, and coasted to an 8-4 victory in opening-round West Regional action in St. Louis, Mo.

The come-from-behind upset of No. 2-ranked BC sends the Tigers into Saturday's regional championship contest against none other than the University of Michigan, which eeked out a controversial 3-2 overtime decision against Nebraska Omaha in Friday's earlier match-up at the Scottrade Center.

The Schwartz brothers – sophomore center Rylan and freshman left wing Jaden – continued to work their magic, each scoring once and assisting on two more red lighters in Friday's early blitz. Senior winger Stephen Schultz scored on a power play to start the uprising at 4:34 and junior center David Civitarese struck with CC playing a man down at 18:42, producing a 4-1 lead after 20 minutes of play.

The goals by Jaden and Rylan Schwartz, which put Colorado College up 3-1 with only 8:02 elapsed, came 15 seconds apart and proved to be too much shock for the Hockey East Association regular-season and playoff champs to overcome. 

Boston College needed only 19 seconds to go up 1-0, as junior right winger Jimmy Hayes banged in a rebound after Pat Mullane's shot from the left side hit the post behind sophomore netminder Joe Howe moments after the opening faceoff.

But the Tigers, now 23-18-3 for the season, pulled even when Schultz circled out of corner and beat senior goalie John Muse with a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle.  

It was the first NCAA playoff defeat ever for Muse, who backstopped Boston College to NCAA titles as a freshman in 2008 and as a junior in 2010. He was yanked in favor of sophomore Parker Milner to start the final stanza.

Fourth-liner Paul Carey gave the Eagles some hope midway through the second period, cutting the deficit to 4-2  before CC exploded for three more goals in a span of 3:33 late in the frame to make it 7-2. Jaden Schwartz, who finished with four points, scored his second of the night at the 14-minute mark. Civitarese set up freshman Alexander Krushelnyski on another shorthanded effort at 15:34 and sophomore William Rapuzzi knocked home a pass by Tim Hall at 17:33.

Rapuzzi added a power-play goal with nine seconds remaining in the game. Howe made 39 saves in the victory.
 
BC finished its season with a record of 30-8-1.

Colorado College will be facing Michigan for the second time this campaign after suffering a 6-5 loss to the Wolverines in the championship game of the Great Lakes Invitational in Detroit on Dec. 30.