TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Ricardo Martinez (So., Boca Raton, Fla.) scored four times as Florida Division Champion/No. 13-ranked the University of Florida topped Atlantic Division Champion/No. 15 Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, 13-11, in the consolation round of the 2017 Men’s National Collegiate Club Championship at Florida State University’s Morcom Aquatics Center.
The win advances the Gators to a 2:50 p.m. game on Saturday, November 11, against the winner of a consolation clash Mid-Atlantic Division Champion/No. 7 Pennsylvania State University and Florida Division Third Place/Host Florida State.
Florida never trailed in the game as the team opened up a 4-0 lead in the first quarter and never permitted Virginia Tech to close within two except for 9-7 leads at the end of the third quarter and the 13-11 final score.
For the Gators, who will battle tomorrow with hopes of reaching the Ninth Place game, Ricardo Martinez (So., Boca Raton, Fla.) led all scorers with four goals to notch Player of the Game accolades. Thomas MacDonald (Sr., Orlando, Fla.), Kyle Irving (Sr., Pretoria, South Africa) and Ali Shahin (Sr., Cairo, Egypt) each accounted for pairs of markers with the trio of John Nieves (Jr., Miami, Fla.), Max Lettau (Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and Parker Strickman (Fr., Plantation, Fla.) tacking on solo strikes.
In cage, Billy Whidden (Sr., Orlando, Fla.) turned away eight shots to earn the win. Hokies’ goalie Jarid Bowen (Jr., Centreville, Va.) took the loss with 10 stops.
Brian Daly (Jr., Fairfax, Va.) keyed Virginia Tech with four goals. Andrew Siemon (Jr., Mechanisburg, Pa.) and Brian Thibodeau (Jr., Ashburn, Va.) tossed in three and two markers, respectively, with Doug Brown (So., Ambler, Pa.) and Danial Okhovvatgilani (Jr., Aldie, Va.) racking up single scores.
Virginia Tech, which previously placed 11th (2006), 12th (2009) and 15th (2007) at the Men’s National Collegiate Club Championship ,will aim to add a 13th place mark to its record at 9:50 p.m. on November 11 as the Hokies will face the loser of the Penn State-Florida State game in a 13th/15th place game.
Due to time constraints, the No. 13 and 15 positions in the final 16-team standings are not played out as the winner and losers of the two 13/15 place games tie for the berths.
| 1st Q | 2nd Q | 3rd Q | 4th Q | – | FINAL | |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | – | 11 |
| University of Florida | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | – | 13 |
| Florida Goals: | Ricardo Martinez (4); Ali Shahin (2); Kyle Irving (2); Thomas MacDonald (2); John Nieves; Parker Strickman; Max Lettau | |||||
| Virginia Tech Goals: | Brian Daly (4); Andrew Siemon (3); Brian Thibodeau (2); Daniel Okhovvatgilani; Doug Brown | |||||
| Saves: | Florida – Billy Whidden (8) ; Virginia Tech – Jarid Bowen (10) | |||||
| Exclusions: | Florida – 11 ; Virginia Tech – 6 | |||||
| Advantage Opportunities: | Florida – 3-for-6 ; Virginia Tech – 4-for-11 | |||||
| Sprints: | Florida – 0-for-4 ; Virginia Tech – 4-for-4 | |||||
| Officials: | Jorge Villalobos, Humberto Navarro | |||||
Photo 1: Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University’s Danial Okhovvatgilani prepares to unload as the University of Florida’s Clancy Short defends; Photo No. 2: University of Florida’s Ricardo Martinez shoots; Photo 3: Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University’s Brian Daly
