NEWBERG, Ore. — Kai Mohl (So,, Palos Verdes, Calif.) scored three times to collect Player of the Game status as No. 4-ranked/Sierra Pacific Division Champion the University of California claimed a 9-8 nail-biter versus No. 15/Rocky Mountain Division Champion the University of Colorado in the Fifth Place Game of the 2022 Men’s National Collegiate Club Championship hosted at the Chehalem Aquatic and Fitness Center.
California – which previously placed Second (2012), Third (2013, 2014, 2015), Fourth (2018, 2021), Fifth (2017) and Sixth (2018) at the National Collegiate Club Championship – earns the program’s seventh Top Four and ninth Top Six finish in the 16-team National Collegiate Club Championship field.
The Golden Bears were pushed to the limit by the Buffaloes as Colorado overcame an early 2-0 deficit to menace California from the opening whistle to the closing horn.
Mohl staked the Golden Bears to an early 2-0 lead in the first quarter by stroking in man-up (4:58) and natural (4:21) markers. The Buffaloes charged back into the contest, however, as Sebastian Vargas (Jr., Los Altos, Calif.) and Reid Schioldager (Sr., Orinda, Calif.) volleyed home shots at 2:32 and 1:53 to balance the scoreboard at two-all. Cal regained the lead at 3-2 courtesy a score by Christopher Wazzan (Fr., Westwood, Calif.) at 1:31, but answers by Colorado’s Max House (Sr., Carmel, Calif.) and Vargas at 1:11 and 18 seconds, respectively, turned the tables on the Golden Bears by pushing the Buffaloes in front at 4-3. The goal reignited California’s offense as Wazzan whipped in an equalizer with one second left on the first quarter clock.
Following over three minutes of scoreless action in the second quarter, Mohl (3:53) and Daniel Ardjmand (Sr., San Diego, Calif.) (3:22) torqued in back-to-back chances to provide California a 6-4 lead. Following a successful five-meter penalty shot by Schioldager at 2:31 to cut the Golden Bears’ lead in half at 6-5, Ty Panitz (Sr., Manhattan Beach, Calif.) returned a two-goal spread to his team prior by halftime by pumping in a tally at 2:01 to make it 7-5 at the break.
Colorado began to chip away at its deficit in the third quarter as Benjamin Budic (So, San Diego, Calif.) and Henrique Sannibale (Sr., South Pasadena, Calif.) found the twine at 5:50 and 2:12, respectively, to sandwich a five-meter penalty shot by Cal’s Ryan Elkhouri (So., Huntington Beach, Calif.) at 3:03 to set the scoreboard at 8-7 heading into the final seven minutes of regulation.
Colorado set the stage for overtime as Vargas buried a chance at 4:28 to deadlock the squads at eight-all. However, Jack Moorehead (Sr., Dana Point, Calif.) delivered the decisive blow with 54 ticks left on the clock to allow California to escape with a 9-8 victory.
For the Golden Bears, Mohl (three) and Wazzan (two) both registered multi-goal games with Elkhouri, Ardjmand, Moorehead and Panitz posting solo markers. In cage, Alex Mueller (Jr., Manhattan Beach, Calif.) notched seven saves in 21 minutes prior to Griffin Hord (Fr., Riverside, Calif.) closing out the contest with four saves during the fourth quarter.
The 1997 National Collegiate Club Championship runner-up prior to earning Fifth (2016), Seventh (2001, 2014, 2021), Eighth (2010), Ninth (2015), 11th (2017) and 12th (2008) Place marks in the program’s most recent appearances, Colorado received a hat-trick from Vargas and a pair by Schioldager. House, Sannibale and Budic deposited single scores in support of a seven save performance by goalkeeper Devin Riess (Sr., San Jose, Calif.).
| 1st Q | 2nd Q | 3rd Q | 4th Q | – | FINAL | |
| No. 15 University of Colorado |
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | – | 8 |
| No. 4 University of California | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | – | 9 |
| California Goals: | Kai Mohl (3); Christopher Wazzan (2); Ryan Elkhouri; Daniel Ardjmand; Jack Moorehead; Ty Panitz | |||||
| Colorado Goals: | Sebastian Vargas (3); Reid Schioldager (2); Max House; Henrique Sannibale; Benjamin Budic | |||||
| Saves: | California – Alex Mueller (7, 21 minutes), Griffin Hord (4, 7 minutes); Colorado – Devin Riess (7) | |||||
| Exclusions: | California – 4 ; Colorado – 6 | |||||
| Advantage Opportunities: | California – 2-for-6; Colorado – 1-for-4 | |||||
| Sprints: | California – 2-for-4 (1st, 2nd) ; Colorado – 2-for-4 (3rd, 4th) | |||||
| Cards/Misconducts: | None | |||||
| Officials: | Mike McMahon, Mark Seidemann | |||||
The University of Colorado’s Benjamin Budic (#13) lines up a shot against the University of California
The University of California’s Ty Panitz (#13) shoots versus the University of Colorado
University of Colorado’s Reid Schioldager (#9)
