With the second game of the day, the #5 Colorado Buffs were coming in hot as the defending MCLA National Champions. On the other side was the #7 Virginia Tech Hokies, coming off a perfect regular season and looking to continue to shock the MCLA with another upset.
Much like Chapman, Colorado came out with an LSM to face off against Virginia Tech. This game went back and forth, beginning with two goals to start the game by CU. Virginia Tech responded and eventually got up to as much as 7-4. Although both goalies were having outstanding games, Colorado was able to go on a 5 goal run to take the lead 9-7.
| Virginia Tech | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Colorado | 3 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
The Hokies weren’t able to end this 20 minute drought until the 4th quarter. Colorado was man down at least 8 times, which the announcers commented on how undisciplined they were playing. With 7 minutes remaining, Kyle Mancini from VT was able to match his flashy orange cleats with his flashy moves. Kyle put it in the back of the net to put the game within one goal.
Following this goal, Conrad Unterkoffler felt left out, so he got some time and room up top off a dodge and ripped it lefty in the far pipe. With the game all tied up, the freshman transfer from Maryland, Colin Macllvennie saw his opportunity to shine.
With a similar dodge as Unterkoffler, Macllvennie found net as he completed his hat trick, putting the Buffs up by one. Unterkoffler must’ve felt a little upstaged, so he got the ball back and saw his short stick match up. Capitalizing on this, he dodged right-to-tight down the alley and pinged the far pipe, tying up the game again. With all this excitement, it was only right that this game would go into overtime!
Just when the first overtime was looking like it wasn’t going to be enough and they’d have to go into double OT, with a minute left, Colin Macllvennie must’ve been thinking about how cool his hat trick was, then decided that 4 goals would be even cooler!
Dodging down the left alley, he put his shoulder down, dictating where they were going. Just as the slide came, Colin leaned back and shot a BTB right past the goalie, off-stick high! The Colorado sideline erupted and ran on to the field. They had just secured their spot in the National Championship game with what is now known as one of the greatest goals in MCLA history!
Hats off to Virginia Tech for having such a great showing this season. I listened to the announcers say they were playing in honor of their fallen teammate this season, and I’d say they more than exceeded expectations. More than just a great season, they showed that the East Coast teams can hang with the West Coast in the MCLA.
So the game is set. Colorado will take on the Grand Canyon Lopes in the MCLA National Championship. Watch the big game and many more 2015 MCLA Tournament games on the league’s YouTube channel!
