PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Jack Sikkema (So., Rockford, Mich.), Sam Sikkema (Sr., Rockford, Mich.) and Ben Daugherty (Jr., Dexter, Mich.) all registered hat-tricks for all Big Ten Division Champion/No. 9-ranked Michigan State University needed to down New England Division Champion/No. 11 Boston College, 14-7, in the eighth and final game of the 2019 Men’s National Collegiate Club Championship’s opening round at the University of Pittsburgh’s Trees Pool.
- The win advances the Spartans to a 9:00 a.m. quarterfinal game on Saturday, November 16, versus Missouri Valley Division Champion/No. 1 Lindenwood University. The clash will pit a combined eight Men’s National Collegiate Club Championships between the two programs as the five-time victors from Lindenwood (2014, 2015, 2016, 2018) and three-time winners from MSU (2000, 2006, 2008) will battle to see which program earns a spot in the semifinals and continues its quest to be the 2019 champion.
- Boston College falls into the consolation side of the 16-team, 30-game championship bracket as the Eagles will meet host Pittsburgh at 9:50 p.m. tonight. The winner stays alive and is guaranteed at worst a 12th Place finish in the field, while the loser falls into a 13th/15th place game and will compete at 8:40 p.m. on Saturday, November 16, in a terminal game.
- Trailing 1-0 with 6:12 left in the first quarter prior to rallying back to take leads of 2-1, 3-2 and 4-2 before exiting the first quarter knotted at four-all, MSU pulled away in the second quarter with acquire a 7-4 lead with 3:13 on the clock.
- Leading 7-5 at halftime, the Spartans slowly pulled way via 3-1 and 4-1 scoring advantages in the third and fourth quarters, respectively, to claim the seven-goal victory.
- For Michigan State, Brock Monette (Fr., Okemos, Mich.), Paul Sikkema (So., Rockford, Mich.), Ewan Woolock (So., Okemos, Mich.), Gavin Saur (Fr., Rockford, Mich.) and Jon Pettinger (Jr., Naperville, Ill.) all chipped in single goals as eight players found the back of the net for the Spartans.
- In cage, Ethan Springer (Fr., Hudsonville, Mich.) made six saves to notch the win. On the other end of the tank, BC’s Hart Ayoob (Sr., San Francisco, Calif.) made seven saves.
- Dan Walsh (Sr., St. Louis, Mo.) and Omar John (Jr., St. John’s, Antigua) both scored twice to key the Eagles’ offense. Michael Spence (Sr., San Francisco, Calif.), Filip Filipovic (Sr., Princeton, N.J.) and Jack Klingler (So., Newport Beach, Calif.) each put away single goals for Boston College.
| 1st Q | 2nd Q | 3rd Q | 4th Q | – | FINAL | |
| No. 11 Boston College | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 7 |
| No. 9 Michigan State University | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | – | 14 |
| MSU Goals: | Jack Sikkema (3); Sam Sikkema (3); Ben Daugherty (3); Brock Monette; Paul Sikkema; Ewan Woolcock; Gavin Saur; Jon Pettinger | |||||
| Boston College: | Omar John (2); Dan Walsh (2); Michael Spence; Filip Filipovic; Jack Klingler | |||||
| Saves: | MSU – Ethan Springer (6) ; Boston College – Hart Ayoob (7) | |||||
| Exclusions: | MSU – 5 ; Boston College – 5 | |||||
| Advantage Opportunities: | MSU – 3-for-5 ; Boston College – 2-for-5 | |||||
| Sprints: | MSU – 2-for-4 (3rd, 4th) ; Boston College – 2-for-4 (1st, 2nd) | |||||
| Cards/Misconducts: | None | |||||
| Officials: | Jason Grubb; Nick Cargola | |||||
Boston College’s Andrew Wison (#2) tries to elude his Michigan State University defender
Michigan State University’s Matt Bergdolt (#2) defends Boston College’s Filip Filipovic (#23)
Boston College’s Michael Spence (#20) flips a pass as Michigan State University’s Paul Sikkema (#21) tries for a field block
