SALT LAKE CITY – 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.
Michigan State becomes the first first-time champion to win the Division I tournament since Grand Canyon did it in 2015.
Division II
SALT LAKE CITY – Ryan Stover drove in from the right side and scored with 1:39 left in the second overtime period, giving North Dakota State the 2018 MCLA Division II National Championship powered by Under Armour.
It is the first national championship for the Bison (12-2), which avenged a pair of earlier losses to St. Thomas (15-2) this season.
It was a tight game from the beginning with the Tommies clinging to a 4-3 lead at halftime. St. Thomas took the biggest lead of the game at 7-5 in the third quarter but NDSU fought back in the fourth quarter to tie the game at seven apiece.
St. Thomas had a chance to win the game in regulation as they were given a two-man advantage on a push and delay of game call on NDSU. The Tommies couldn’t break through, however, as Noah Orham made one of his 11 saves to send the game into overtime.
Both teams had chances in the first overtime, but couldn’t break through. Midway through the second extra session, Stover emerged from a scramble at midfield and drove in to bury the championship goal.
Alec Larson led the Bison with a hat trick while NDSU defender Evan Schraut was named the tournament MVP.
Jack Stanchfield had two goals and an assist in the losing effort while Patrick Jackson made eight saves.