ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Freshman Anthony Maiani scored with 1:20 left in regulation to lift Denver to a 3-1 win over North Dakota on Friday in the semifinals of the WCHA Final Five.

Maiani raced down the right side with North Dakota defenseman Joe Finley in his path the entire way, and just before getting to the goal line, he scooped a backhanded shot past Fighting Sioux goaltender Jean-Philippe Lamoureaux.

Matt Glasser added an empty net goal in the closing seconds and Peter Mannino made 32 saves to send the Pioneers into Saturday's tournament final against Minnesota.

The game-winner came after North Dakota tied the score early in the third period on a hardworking goal by Taylor Chorney. Denver's Rhett Rakhshani got the game's first goal on a power play in the second period.

It's the second straight game-winning goal for Maiani. He had the only score of the Pioneers' 1-0 win over Minnesota Duluth last weekend to clinch a first-round series sweep in Denver.

Minnesota edges CC

Mike Hoeffel's overtime goal, his second goal of the game, lifted Minnesota to a win over Colorado College and into the WCHA Final Five championship.

Colorado College, which won the WCHA regular-season title, broke out early in the second period on a power-play goal by Andreas Vlassopoulos, who slapped the puck past Kangas during a scrum in front of the crease.