NEWBERG, Ore. — Kai Mohl (So., Palos Verdes, Calif.) and Christopher Wazzan (Fr., Westwood, Calif.) both scored four times to share Player of the Game recognition as No. 4-ranked/Sierra Pacific Division Champion the University of California downed No. 17/Atlantic Division Champion the University of Virginia, 18-8, in the opening round of the 2022 Men’s National Collegiate Club Championship hosted by Oregon State University at the Chehalem Aquatic and Fitness Center.
Courtesy the victory, California advances into the tournament quarterfinals as the Golden Bears will return to the pool at 10:10 a.m. Pacific on Saturday, November 12, to face the winner of a first round game pitting No. 2/Southwest Division Champion the University of California-San Diego and No. 9/New England Division Champion Dartmouth College. Virginia will meet the loser of the UC-San Diego-vs.-Dartmouth game at 6:20 p.m. this evening in the consolation side of the bracket.
California – which previously placed Second (2012), Third (2013, 2014, 2015), Fourth (2018, 2021), Fifth (2017), Sixth (2018) at the National Collegiate Club Championship – opened up a 1-0 lead 74 seconds into the game and saw Virginia knot the game at one-all with 5:28 on the clock prior to pulling away over the remainder of the the first quarter to acquire a 7-4 lead.
A 6-1 scoring advantage in the second quarter allowed the Golden Bears to head into halftime with a 13-5 scoreboard advantage.
Following each team scoring once in the third quarter, California put the contest to rest with a 4-2 surge over the final seven minutes to gain a 10-game margin of victory.
Virginia – which previously tied for 13th (2021) and 15th (2003) in the program’s two prior appearances at the Men’s National Collegiate Club Championship – received six goals by Willem Palmer (So., Mill Valley, Calif.) and solo tallies from Nick Hoffs (Fr., Laguna Beach, Calif.) and Ethan Schifres (Fr., Granite Bay, Calif.). Goalkeeper Pranay Vittal (So., Richmond, Va.) turned aside five shots in taking the loss.
For California, Ryan Elkhouri (So., Huntington Beach, Calif.), Hosny Hussein (Fr., Cairo, Egypt) and Cooper Tunney (So., Orinda, Calif.) each netted pairs of markers with Daniel Ardjmand (Sr., San Diego, Calif.), Jack Moorehead (Sr., Dana Point, Calif.), Jack Bao (Jr., San Diego, Calif.) and Colby Alonzo (So., San Anselmo, Calif.) all finding the mesh once.
Alex Mueller (Jr., Manhattan Beach, Calif.) recorded seven saves to pick-up the win between the pipes for the Golden Bears.
| 1st Q | 2nd Q | 3rd Q | 4th Q | – | FINAL | |
| No. 17 University of Virginia |
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | – | 8 |
| No. 4 University of California | 7 | 6 | 1 | 4 | – | 18 |
| California Goals: | Kai Mohl (4); Christopher Wazzan (4); Ryan Eklhouri (2); Hosny Hussein (2); Cooper Tunney (2); Daniel Ardjmand; Jack Moorehead; Colby Alonzo; Jack Bao | |||||
| Virginia Goals: | Willem Palmer (6); Nick Hoffs; Matteo Schisano | |||||
| Saves: | California – Alex Mueller (7) ; Virginia – Pranay Vittal (5) | |||||
| Exclusions: | California – 9 ; Virginia – 5 | |||||
| Advantage Opportunities: | California – 1-for-5; Virginia – 4-for-9 | |||||
| Sprints: | California – 2-for-4 (3rd, 4th); Virginia – 2-for-4 (1st. 2nd) | |||||
| Cards/Misconducts: | None | |||||
| Officials: | Robert North; Mark Seidemann | |||||
University of California’s Jack Moorehead (#9) lines up a shot as the University of Virginia’s Ethan Scifres (#17) closes in
The University of Virginia’s Willem Palmer (#7) tries for a field block as the University of California’s Christopher Wazzan (#4) fires a shot
University of Virginia’s Matteo Schisano (#25) looks for an opening against the University of California
