Chapman Too Much for South Carolina
SALT LAKE CITY – Dylan Garner and Wiley Bonham combined for eight goals and three assists, leading Chapman to a comfortable, 16-9 win over South Carolina in the first Division I semifinal at the 2018 MCLA National Championships powered by Under Armour.
The victory sends the Panthers (16-0) to the national championship game on Saturday afternoon. This will be Chapman’s third consecutive trip to the finals.
After a back-and-forth first quarter that left Chapman with a 4-3 lead, Garner (5g, 1a) and Bonham (3g, 2a) went to work. The Panthers outscored the Gamecocks (18-2) 10-6 over the second and third quarters to push the lead to 14-9.
The second half surge was helped by the Chapman faceoff unit that went 10-for-13. Parker Halaburda went 14-for-24 overall for the Panthers with seven ground balls.
Parker Core added three goals and a dime in the winning effort while Chapman goalie Zach Rich was credited with six saves.
Jake Ellis had a hat trick to lead South Carolina while Noah St. John chipped in with a pair of goals and an assist. Gamecocks goalie Colin Hains made eight stops.