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MCLA
May 14, 2018
1:34 am

Michigan State Nets First MCLA D1 Championship

Charlie Pistner scored four goals and the Michigan State defense held Chapman to its lowest goal total of the season as the Spartans won the 2018 MCLA Division I National Championships powered by Under Armour with a 10-8 win over the Panthers.

The title is the first for the Michigan State (18-1), which was wearing throwback green jerseys all week honoring their first season back in 1963.

Chapman grabbed an early lead, taking a 2-1 edge after the first quarter but the tempo of the game favored the Spartans. Michigan State rallied in the second quarter to tie the game at halftime, 4-4.

State took the lead in the third period, leading by a goal, 7-6 heading into the final frame. The lead expanded to 9-6 in the fourth and was still 10-7 late in the game.

Chapman (16-1) pulled one back to cut the lead to 10-8, but they could get no closer.

Kevin Boland, who finished with 10 saves for Michigan State in net, was named the tournament MVP.

Dylan Garner capped off his illustrious Chapman career with a hat trick to lead the Panthers while Zach Rich turned away seven shots.

MSU becomes the first first-time champion to win the Division I tournament since Grand Canyon did it in 2015.

D1 Championship Highlights:

Watch Michigan State vs. Chapman on-demand:

MCLA

The Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) is a confederacy of 10 non-varsity college lacrosse conferences featuring over 200 teams in two divisions across 43 states and two countries. The MCLA provides a governing structure similar to the NCAA, consisting of eligibility rules, national polls, and a national tournament to decide national champions for both Divisions I and II. On an individual scope, the MCLA’s rules and structure promote “virtual varsity” lacrosse. On a national scale, the MCLA’s infrastructure supports a level playing field through eligibility rules and enforcement, along with the use of NCAA rules of play. Providing a quality college lacrosse experience where varsity lacrosse does not yet exist, the purpose of the MCLA is to provide access to the collegiate game for those who seek it.