TUCSON, Arizona — Sam Naugle (Jr., Roseville, Calif.) of No. 1-ranked/Sierra Pacific Division Champion the University of California scored four times to net Player of the Game accolades as the Golden Bears built leads of 4-1 and 7-1 at the conclusion of the first two quarters in coasting to a victory over No. 7/Great Lakes Division Champion The Ohio State University, 15-3, in the quarterfinals of the 2018 Men’s National Collegiate Club Championship hosted at the University of Arizona.
The victory advances California into a 5:10 p.m. semifinal versus No.10/Missouri Valley Division Champion Lindenwood University later today as the Golden Bears are guaranteed to finish no lower than Fourth Place in the final 16-team tournament standings.
In the recent history of the championship, Cal has finished Second (2012), Third (2013, 2014, 2015), Fifth (2017), Sixth (2016) as the team will continue on its path to capturing the program’s inaugural Men’s Collegiate Club National Championship.
For California, Noah Feingold (Sr., Palos Verdes, Calif.) and Nate Conger (Fr., Encinitas, Calif.) joined Naugle in netting hat-tricks, while Alex Lee (Fr., Pacific Palisades, Calif.) deposited a pair. The trio of Jackson Hettler (Jr., Mill Valley, Calif.), Mostyn Fero (Jr., Palo Alto, Calif.) and Thomas Lane (Sr., Rigetti, Calif.) each put away solo markers.
In cage, Carter Chan (Jr., Orinda, Calif.) earned the start and the win with seven saves before Brandon Byrne (Fr., Riverside, Calif.) and Brycen Ulrich (Sr., Ventura, Calif.) came in to turn away a pair and one shot, respectively.
Lance Bockbrader (So, Toldeo, Ohio) led the way for Ohio State with a pair goals. Nick Hallett (Sr., Zeeland, Mich.) chipped in a solo marker and goalies Ryan Shepard (Sr., Mission Viejo, Calif.) (nine) and Alex Rabe (So., Columbus, Ohio) (one) combined for 10 saves.
The Buckeyes will return to the pool at 4:00 p.m. later today against No. 4/Southwest Division Champion the University of California-San Diego with eyes on earning a spot in the Fifth Place game at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, November 11. A loss drops Ohio State into the Seventh Place game at 9:00 a.m. on November 11.
Historically, the Buckeyes have previously placed Fifth (2014), Sixth (2017) and 11th (2013) as the team can tie its all-time best finish at the event and/or record the program’s third Top 10 finish depending on their performance over the next two days.
| 1st Q | 2nd Q | 3rd Q | 4th Q | – | FINAL | |
| Ohio State University | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 3 |
| University of California | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | – | 15 |
| California Goals: | Sam Naugle (4); Noah Feingold (3); Nate Conger (3); Alex Lee (2); Jackson Hettler; Mostyn Fero; Thomas Lane | |||||
| Ohio State Goals: | Lance Bockbrader (2); Nick Hallett | |||||
| Saves: | California – Carter Chan (7), Brandon Byrne (2); Brycen Ulrich (1) ; Ohio State – Ryan Shepard (9), Alex Rabe (1) | |||||
| Exclusions: | California – 10 ; Ohio State – 14 | |||||
| Advantage Opportunities: | California – 9-for-14 ; Ohio State – 0-for-10 | |||||
| Sprints: | California – 4-for-4 ; Ohio State – 0-for-4 | |||||
| Cards/Misconducts: | None | |||||
| Officials: | Tony Karaman, Mike McMahon | |||||
University of California’s Mark Presten (#9)
The Ohio State University’s Drew Wilson (#10) looks to drop off a pass as the University of California’s Drew Wilson (#10) defends
The Ohio State University’s Drace Penley (#3) shoots as the University of California’s Daniel Ting (#23) and Davis Horeff (#15)
University of California’s Jackson Hettler (#8) prepares to shoot as The Ohio State University’s Youssef Azzazy (#6) defends
