CARLISLE, Pa. — Atlantic Division Third Place finisher Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University – which earned a berth in the 2025 Men’s National Collegiate Club Championship during the late afternoon on Wednesday, November 5, following the decision of division champion the University of Virginia to not compete and runner-up the United States Naval Academy’s inability to accept the spot due to leave policy/military commitments – took down New York Division Champion Columbia University, 13-11, in the opening round of the championship hosted at the Carlisle YMCA Aquatic Center.
The Hokies – which have previously finished 11th (2006), 12th (2009), 13th (2017) and 15th (2007, 2018) at the National Collegiate Club Championship and can not finish lower than Eighth Place in the 2025 edition of the event – advance to a 10:10 a.m. Eastern quarterfinal match-up on Saturday, November 8, with Southeast Division Champion the University of Alabama. The Crimson Tide topped New England Division Champion/No. 17 Dartmouth College by a 13-10 score in another 2025 Men’s National Collegiate Club Championship opening round contest.
Columbia – which previously finished Fourth (2011), 13th (2008, 2010, 2015), 11th (2009) and 15th (2006) at the National Collegiate Club Championship – will take on Dartmouth at 6:20 p.m. this evening in the consolation side of the bracket.
Virginia Tech led for the majority of the game as the Hokies trailed for just 16 seconds during the contest in overpowering Columbia and clinching a guaranteed Top Eight finish in the 30-game, 16 team championship.
Leading 3-2 with 3:41 left in the first quarter, the Hokies saw their lead temporarily evaporate as back-to-back Lions’ strikes put Columbia in front by a 4-3 count with 2:27 on the clock. However, Peter Janowicz (Lake Forest, Ill.) (2:27, man-up), Ben Farls (Baltimore, Md.) (2:11) and Leni Zenatti (Miami, Fla.) (14 seconds) closed out the opening seven minutes of action with back-to-back-to-back goals to place Virginia Tech in front to stay at 5-4.
The lead drew to 9-4 with 2:08 on the clock in the second quarter before the Lions roared back to close within 9-6 prior to halftime.
Virginia Tech’s lead never went below two goals the rest of the way as the Hokies held off Columbia down the stretch to claim a three-goal win.
Player of the Game Max Pagon (San Diego, Calif.) (four), Farls (three), Janowicz (two) and Owen Fritz (Lansdale, Pa.) (two) combined for 11 of Virginia Tech’s 13 goals, while Zenatti and Tim Schwar (Lansdale, Pa.) tacked on solo markers.
Andrew Miller (Gr., Richmond, Texas) accounted for six goals with Maxim Koretsky (Sr., Sunnyvale, Calif.) punching in a trio. Henry Pennington (Fr., Haverford, Pa.) and Achilleas Tsirgis (Gr., New York, N.Y.) notched single markers.
| 1st Q | 2nd Q | 3rd Q | 4th Q | – | FINAL | |
| Columbia University | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | – | 11 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | – | 13 |
| Virginia Tech Goals: | Max Pagon (4); Ben Farls (3); Peter Janowicz (2); Owen Fritz (2); Leni Zenatti; Tim Schwar | |||||
| Columbia Goals: | Andrew Miller (6); Maxim Koretsky (3); Henry Pennington; Achilleas Tsirgis | |||||
| Exclusions: | Virginia Tech – 11 ; Columbia – 11 | |||||
| Advantage Opportunities: | Virginia Tech – 5-for-11 ; Columbia – 6-for-11 | |||||
| Sprints: | Virginia Tech – 3-for-4 (2nd, 3rd, 4th) ; Columbia -1-or-4 (4th) | |||||
| Cards/Misconducts: | None | |||||
| Officials: | Chad Quinn, Matt Turner | |||||
Columbia University’s Jonathan Kon (#8)
Columbia University’s Kai Spicer (#15) scopes an opening as Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University’s Ben Farls (#11) closes in
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University’s Tyson Souder (#1)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University’s Max Pagon (#7) & Columbia University’s Andrew Miller (#9)
