KEARNS, Utah — Ryan McLaughlin (Jr., Blue Bell, Pa.) scored eight times to take Player of the Game honors as Mid-Atlantic Division Champion/No. 17-ranked Pennsylvania State University outgunned host the University of Utah, 17-15, in the 11th Place game at the Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center to wrap-up both teams’ participation at the 2023 Men’s National Collegiate Club Championship.
Penn State – which previously finished Second (1998), Seventh (2016, 2022), Eighth (2014), 10th (2009, 2015, 2017), 11th (2012) and 12th (2005) at the Men’s National Collegiate Club Championship – outscored Utah 7-4 in the first quarter, expanded its lead to 12-6 by halftime, kept pace with the Utes in the third quarter and survived a 5-1 onslaught by the home team to claim victory and add another 11th Place mark to the team’s history.
The 2018 Men’s National Collegiate Club Championship runner-up, the Utes’ 12th place finish marks the first time the squad has finished outside the Top 10 at the Men’s National Collegiate Club Championship with prior Ninth (2007, at University of Arizona; 2014 at Kearns), Seventh (2009 at University of Florida), Fourth (2012 at the Osborn Aquatics Center/Oregon State University; 2019 at University of Pittsburgh) and Second (2018 at University of Arizona) place marks.
For Penn State, McLaughlin led the way with eight goals. Louie Porter (Jr., King of Prussia, Pa.) added four with Jacob Harkins (Sr., Hollywood, Fla.), Matthew Fencel (Jr., Camp Hill, Pa.), Keegan Engstrom (Sr., Pasadena, Calif.), Brien Yaglenski (Jr., Schwenksville, Pa.) and Danny Crump (So., Blue Bell, Pa.) chipping in solo markers.
Utah received five goals from Tanner Jones (Sr., Danville, Pa.) and hat-tricks with three tallies by Ethan Thunell (So., Holladay, Utah) and William Bennett (So., Orange, Calif.). Andrew Shaw (So., Moraga, Utah) tacked on a pair with Phil Morgan (Jr., Baltimore, Md.) and Alex Brett (Sr., Los Altos, Calif.) notching single strikes.
| 1st Q | 2nd Q | 3rd Q | 4th Q | – | FINAL | |
| No. 17 Pennsylvania State University |
7 | 5 | 4 | 1 | – | 17 |
| University of Utah | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | – | 15 |
| Utah Goals: | Tanner Jones (5); Ethan Thunell (3); William Bennett (3); Andrew Shaw (2); Phil Morgan; Alex Brett | |||||
| Penn State Goals: | Ryan McLaughlin (8); Louie Porter (4); Jacob Harkins; Matthew Fencel; Keegan Enstrom; Brien Yaglenski; Danny Crump | |||||
| Exclusions: | Utah – 13 ; Penn State – 11 | |||||
| Advantage Opportunities: | Utah – 7-for-11 ; Penn State – 6-for-13 | |||||
| Sprints: | Utah – 2-for-4 (1st, 2nd) ; Penn State – 2-for-4 (3rd, 4th) | |||||
| Cards/Misconducts: | MD – Penn State (Ryan McLaughlin, 2:07 left in 4th Q) | |||||
| Officials: | Chad Quinn, Jeremy Mauss | |||||
University of Utah’s Tate Tetreault (#13) prepares to shoot as Pennsylvania State University’s Colin Henry (#10) turns to defend
University of Utah’s Tanner Jones (#5) and Pennsylvania State University’s Danny Crump (#2)
University of Utah’s Tanner Jones (#5) defends Pennsylvania State University’s Luke Price (#8)
