PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Calvin Behm (Fr., Erie, Pa.) scored seven times to claim Player of the Game recognition as Mid-Atlantic Division Champion/No. 19-ranked Pennsylvania State University topped Sierra Pacific Division Champion/No. 4 California State University Maritime Academy, 12-6, in the Seventh Place game of the 2019 Men’s National Collegiate Club Championship.
- Competing at the University of Pittsburgh’s Trees Pool, the Nittany Lions earn tie their second best finish in the history of the program at the Men’s National Collegiate Club Championship after previously placing second (1998), Seventh (2016), Eighth (2014), 10th (2009, 2015, 2017), 11th (2012) and 12th (2005).
- Penn State never trailed against Cal Maritime as Behm staked the Keystone State contingent to a 1-0 lead 28 seconds into the game (6:28) before Ian Iverson (Jr., Pasadena, Calif.) balanced the scoreboard at the 5:55 mark with a man-up strike. Behm closed out the first quarter with back-to-back tallies at 5:40 and 3:09 to complete a hat-trick in the first seven minutes of action and give PSU a 3-1 lead.
- Iverson moved the Keelhaulers back within one at 3-2 with 6:37 left in the second quarter, but Behm notched his fourth score at 6:05 by converting a man-up chance. Iverson continued the back-and-forth scoring contest with Behm by putting away a natural goal at 4:58 to make it 4-3, but Ethan Lionetti (Fr., Perkasie, Pa.) butted into the two-man show by lining in a five-meter penalty shot at 3:09 to return Penn State’s lead to a pair at 5-3.
- Lionetti’s penalty shot ignited a three score outburst by PSU as Behm followed with back-to-back goals at 2:32 and 1:58 to expand the Nittany Lions’ margin to 7-3 with under two minutes left in the first half.
- Cal Maritime refused to slowly sink, however, as Iverson (1:41) and Brandon Kolarov (So., Laguna Hills, Calif.) (23 seconds) dented the twine prior to the horn to move the Keelhaulers back within a pair at 7-5 heading into halftime.
- The momentum stalled in the third quarter, however, as neither team was able to solve their foe’s defense with the exception of Aidan Daly (So., Lansdale, Pa.) who pumped in a tally at 5:25 for an 8-5 PSU lead after 21 minutes of competition.
- Daniel Berring (So., Ambler, Pa.) widened the lead back to four at 9-5 with 5:25 remaining in the fourth quarter, but Reagan Hesse (Jr., La Crescenta, Calif.) moved Cal Maritime back to within three at 9-6 with 4:34 left in regulation.
- The Nittany Lions put any thoughts of overtime to rest in the closing moments of the game as Tan Kocyildirim (Fr., Pittsburgh, Pa.), Michael Dougherty (Jr, Ambler, Pa.) and Behm ticked off back-to-back-to-back strikes at 3:42, 3:01 and 1:33, respectively, for the 12-6 final score.
- For Cal Maritime – which made its inaugural appearance at the Men’s National Collegiate Club Championship after winning the program’s Sierra Pacific Division Championship – Iverson scored four times. Kolarov and Hesse chipped in solo goals with netminder Steven Mori (Sr., Seal Beach, Calif.) swatting away eight shots as the Keelhaulers net an Eighth Place finish in the final 16-team championship standings.
- Eight-time Mid-Atlantic Division Champion Penn State (1998, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019) received seven goals from Behm along with solo strikes by Lionetti, Daly, Dougherty, Kocyildirim and Berring. Goalie Antonio Bosca (Sr., Flourtown, Pa.) earned the victory with eight saves.
| 1st Q | 2nd Q | 3rd Q | 4th Q | – | FINAL | |
| No. 4 California State University Maritime Academy | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | – | 6 |
| No. 19 Pennsylvania State University | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | – | 12 |
| Penn State Goals: | Calvin Behm (7); Ethan Lionetti; Aidan Daly; Michael Dougherty; Tan Kocyildirim; Daniel Berring | |||||
| Cal Maritime Goals: | Ian Iverson (4); Brandon Kolarov; Reagan Hesse | |||||
| Saves: | Penn State – Antonio Bosca (8) ; Cal Maritime – Steven Mori (8) | |||||
| Exclusions: | Penn State – 4 ; Cal Maritime – 5 | |||||
| Advantage Opportunities: | Penn State -2-for-5 ; Cal Maritime – 1-for-4 | |||||
| Sprints: | Penn State – 2-for-4 (1st, 3rd) ; Cal Maritime – 2-for-4 (2nd, 4th) | |||||
| Cards/Misconducts: | None | |||||
| Officials: | Nick Cargola; Igor Mernenko | |||||
California State University Maritime Academy’s Aldric Terral (#9) cocks to shoot as Pennsylvania State University’s Calvin Behm (#13) comes over on defense
Pennsylvania State University’s Michael Dougherty (#19) tries to get a shot off against California State University Maritime Academy’s Jack Cinotto (#11)
Pennsylvania State University’s Calvin Behm (#13) spots an opening down tank as California State University Maritime Academy’s Cooper Arnett (#7) pursues
