ROUND ROCK, Texas – The top four Division I seeds at the 2023 MCLA National Championships presented by New Balance all advanced to Tuesday’s quarterfinals at the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex on Monday evening.

No. 1 Virginia Tech (15-2) d. No. 16 Michigan State (6-6), 19-3
It was a bit of slow start to the game for the top-seeded Hokies as they trailed Michigan State, 2-0 after one quarter and then 3-1 early in the second quarter.

From that point on, it was all Virginia Tech. The Hokies scored the final 18 goals of the game over the last 40 minutes to cruise home for a 19-3 triumph.

Jared Cole led the way for Tech, scoring four goals while Aidan Smith had two goals and three assists. The Hokies goalies combined for 11 saves.

Mason Rezenka accounted for two of the Spartans three goals while Connor Hamilton had two assists. Kaelan Bonner made 17 saves for Michigan State while Matt Copple added two more.

No. 2 Georgia Tech (15-3) d. No. 15 Texas (10-3), 17-9
It took a while for these two teams to feel each other out with Georgia Tech holding just a 1-0 lead over the Longhorns after one quarter. The lead was still just 5-2 at half.

A 10-goal scoring binge from the Yellow Jackets in the third quarter put Tech up 15-7 and the Jackets cruised home.

Devin Raun had four goals and three assists to power the Georgia Tech offense while Peter Zagrobelny finished with four saves.

Tucker George and Sterling Hupp led Texas with a pair of goals each. Ryan Glennon was credited with six saves.

No. 3 Liberty (14-3) d. No. 14 UC Santa Barbara (9-6), 15-12
A big third quarter proved to be the difference in this one, as Liberty cracked open a 6-5 halftime lead with six goals to bring a 12-7 lead into the fourth quarter.

UC Santa Barbara made it interesting, cutting the margin to two, 14-12, but ran out of time in the 15-12 setback.

Cooper Branham had five goals for the Flames while Braden Landry and Cameron Carter also notched hat tricks. Carter also added four assists. Eric Warnstrom made 14 saves for the win.

The Gauchos were paced by Ryan Fisk and his four goals while Camden Dwelly added a hat trick. Zane Schwab made 10 stops for UCSB.

No. 4 Chapman (16-3) d. No. 13 South Carolina (8-10), 13-7
There will be a new champion in the MCLA this spring as two-time defending champion South Carolina fell to the Panthers.

Chapman wasted no time taking control of the game, racing out to a 5-1 first-quarter lead and the margin ballooned to 10-2 at the break thanks to a first-half hat trick from George McGuirk.

South Carolina would not go quietly, tightening up its defense and outscoring the Panthers, 5-3 in the second half, but could not dig out of the early hole.

Joining McGuirk with a hat trick was Liam Nelson while Jackson Wells passed out a trio of dimes. Jason Bohlinger made 12 saves for the win.

Patrick Reilly’s two goals and two assists paced the Gamecocks. Colm Flynn made seven saves.