Grand Rapids — Once the Spartans regained their breath, celebration ensued.

While watching failed attempts at scoring empty-net goals and Notre Dame controlling with a six-on-four power play in the final seconds, MSU fans and players could only hope to cling onto the 2-1 lead.

When the puck trickled by a Notre Dame defenseman and into neutral territory, everybody knew it — with their 2-1 victory over the No. 1 and top-seeded Fighting Irish, the Spartans were going to the Frozen Four. It's their first appearance since 2001.

Coaches and players, including those who did not dress for the game, hurdled over the bench boards and onto the ice toward sophomore goaltender Jeff Lerg. Soon enough, Lerg was swallowed by the mass of his congratulatory teammates.

Junior defenseman Daniel Vukovic, who injured his knee early in the second period, raised his newly acquired crutch into the air.

Senior captain Chris Lawrence broke from the huddle and gestured to the MSU fans at Van Andel Arena. He made no attempt to disguise his emotions, even when most of the team was making its way off the ice.

"It was kind of like four years right before me," Lawrence said. "This group of guys deserves it. This is the closest team that I've ever been on."

Who would have thought this MSU team would be in the Frozen Four?

This is the same team that dropped four of its last five regular-season games.

This is the same team that allowed six goals to Lake Superior State just a week ago.

This is the same team that lost a solid core of seniors and forward Drew Miller after last season.

Then there's that one word the players and head coach Rick Comley have thrown around all season long that could explain this reversal of fortune — resiliency.

"As we've done all year, this is a very resilient team," Comley said. "We have a tendency to get ahead, give up leads. You never know what's going to happen, and that one went right down to the wire."

MSU played a patient defensive game and blocked several pucks Saturday. The Spartans allowed 20 shots, the only Irish goal from forward Evan Rankin's deflection off a shot by defenseman Brett Blatchford that was headed well wide of the net.

"We played well," Lawrence said. "We didn't give up too many chances defensively. All weekend, we played very well defensively. Obviously, our best player was our best player when he had to be, and that's Jeff (Lerg)."

But after Rankin's goal late in the third period, the Fighting Irish were ignited. They came out and controlled the play and prevented the Spartans from doing anything offensively.

Notre Dame's offensive pressure was reminiscent of last week's CCHA third-place consolation game against Lake Superior State. The Lakers erased a two-goal deficit with their goaltender pulled in the final minute of the game, sending it into overtime. The Spartans won that game, 7-6.

"You try not to do two things when you have the lead in the third period," Comley said. "Look at the clock and start thinking, 'Can this really happen?'"

MSU never relinquished its lead. Behind a wraparound goal from sophomore forward Tim Kennedy in the third period and a goal from junior forward Chris Mueller in the second period after a would-be MSU goal was disallowed, the Spartans prevailed.

"I've coached a long time, and I want to coach longer, and I take the good with the bad," Comley said. "And this team deserves a lot of credit."

The Spartans will resume action April 5 against Maine, the team that ended their season last year.