The No. 1 seed in Division II of the 2019 MCLA National Tournament fell on Tuesday, while the No. 1 seed in Division I, Cal, moved on to the semifinals.
No. 8 NDSU (7-7) d. No. 1 Minn. Duluth (12-2), 17-14
They were the No. 1 team for the entire regular season, the top seed in the Division II tournament and defeated North Dakota State twice already this season, but Minn.-Duluth (12-2) could not escape the Bison a third time.
A 6-1 fourth quarter turned a 13-11 deficit into a stunning, 17-14 win for North Dakota State (7-7), who now head to the semifinals in hopes of continuing its the defense of its 2018 title.
Noah Simpson (5g) and Ryan Stover (4g, 1a) were the big guns for NDSU in the upset while Noah Orham made nine saves in the win.
Scott McNamara scored six goals and set up a seventh to lead the Bulldogs while Ryan Larson added a hat trick. Blake Nastrom had 11 saves.
No. 1 California (16-0) d. No. 8 New Hampshire (12-1), 18-11
Cal’s Brendan Cook tied the record for most points in a game (10) and came up one shy of most goals in a game (8), helping the Golden Bears post a convincing win in this battle of the last two unbeaten teams in Division I, 18-11.
“He has worked very hard and it’s really great to see his growth this spring,” said Cal coach Ned Webster of Cook.
Cook scored five of his goals in the first quarter, allowing Cal to build a 6-3 lead that ballooned to 11-6 at halftime. The Wildcats would get no closer.
Jake Pistotnik aided the Bears’ cause with for goals and two assists. Nick Beattie was credited with 13 saves.
Anthony Gallo buried four for the Wildcats while two others scored two each. John Leach made eight stops.
No. 2 Chapman (17-2) d. No. 7 Colorado (13-3), 14-12
Chapman attackman Wiley Bonham scored three of his game-high five goals in the second half, allowing the Panthers to fend off a feisty Colorado outfit and pick up a 14-12 victory. The win sends Chapman to the national semifinals on Thursday afternoon.
Chapman tried to put the game away early, racing out to a 5-2 first-quarter lead, but the Buffs countered with four in the second frame to narrow the lead to 7-6.
The Buffs managed to tie the game at nine apiece midway through the third period, but a three-goal binge by the Panthers proved to be too much to overcome.
Garrett Stemmler added a hat trick in the winning effort while Daniel Aguilar had 14 saves. Tyler Bogart had four goals and an assist for Colorado while Peter Wharton had eight saves.
No. 2 St. Thomas (9-4) d. No. 10 St. John’s (6-6), 16-8
The first half of this contest is what you’d expect to see with an in-state rivalry game on the biggest stage. The second half was more what you’d expect when a No. 2 seed meets a No. 10.
In the first 30 minutes, St. Johns was looking hungry, and held a two-goal advantage at one point before St. Thomas clawed its way back into the game, taking an 8-7 lead at the break.
Fifteen minutes later after a 5-0 third quarter by the Tommies and the game was essentially over as UST coasted home for the 16-8 victory.
Alex Vijums buried five goals in the winning effort while Jack Stanchfield added a hat trick and an assist while Mark Dowdle scored a goal and set up three others. Patrick Jackson had nine saves for the win.
Tommy Kraus accounted for half the Johnnies production with three goals and an apple. Ryan Nelson made nine stops.
Stay tuned for more 2019 MCLA National Tournament coverage.
