HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Ron Zamir (Jr., Palo Alto, Calif.) scored six times to earn Player of the Game notice as Rocky Mountain Division runner-up the University of Colorado topped host/Southeast Division Champion/No. 20-ranked the University of Alabama, 13-8, in the Seventh Place game of the 2026 Men’s National Collegiate Club Championship at the Huntsville Aquatics Center.
Colorado – which previously placed Second (1997), Fifth (2016), Sixth (2023, 2025), Seventh (2001, 2014, 2021), Eighth (2010, 2023), Ninth (2015, 2024), 11th (2017) and 12th (2008) at Nationals and made the 2026 event due to division champion the University of Utah electing not to compete – overcame a 6-5 deficit with 3:50 left in the second quarter to outscore the Crimson Tide the rest of the way and add another Top 10 finish to the Buffaloes’ legacy of success.
Zamir (six), Chase Weddell (Fr., Temecula, Calif.) (four), Simone Abboud (Fr., San Diego, Calif.), Chase King (Jr., Danville, Calif.) and Tyler Patay (Jr., San Diego, Calif.) combined for Colorado’s 13 goals with netminder JP Duran (Fr., Prosper, Texas) stopping nine shots.
Alabama – which notched fourth (2025), 11th (2022), 13th (2021, 2023) and 15th (2017, 2018, 2019) place marks in the team’s prior trips to the National Collegiate Club Championship – received six goals by Jason Tockstein (San Diego, Calif.) and a pair from William Rigazzi (Virginia Beach, Va.) to go along with seven saves by Bram Gerken (Bend, Ore.).
Colorado claimed an early lead as Zamir (6:37) broke the ice 23 seconds into the game. The margin did not last long as Tockstein (6:11; 4:35) buried back-to-back chances to put Alabama ahead prior to Weddell (4:09) notching an equalizer to square the squads at two-all. The teams continued to trade scoring blows during the remainder of the first quarter as Rigazzi (3:50; 49 seconds) delivered for the Crimson Tide to sandwich blows for the Buffaloes by Patay (2:42) and Zamir (1:06) as the teams exited the first seven minutes of action tied at four-all.
The back-and-forth continued for the duration of the second quarter as Tockstein (5:29; 3:50) and Zamir (4:20; 2:31) dented the twine prior to Weddell (13 seconds) giving Colorado back the lead at 7-6 entering halftime.
Zamir widened the gap to 8-6 with 5:57 on the third quarter clock prior to Tockstein lining a ball into the cage at 2;03 to once again move Alabama within a score at 8-7. Weddell (1:14) and Tockstein (1:05) punched in shots in the closing minutes of the third quarter to allow Colorado to exit the third quarter with a 9-8 lead.
The Buffaloes put the game away in the fourth quarter with a 4-0 run as Weddell (5:03), Zamir (2:25), King (1:59) and Abboud (1:00) flung home insurance markers to increase the final margin to 13-8.
University of Alabama’s William Rigazzi (#11) & University of Colorado’s Matteo Petty (#10)
University of Alabama’s Chase Dimauro (#10) & University of Colorado’s Chase Weddell (#2)
University of Colorado’s Matteo Petty (#10) shoots as the University of Alabama’s William Rigazzi (#11) & Chase Dimauro (#10) defend
