Montana State Wins the Title

ROUND ROCK, Texas – In its first visit to the MCLA Division II national championship game, No. 4 Montana State knocked off the team with the most rings as the Bobcats defeated No. 2 St. Thomas, 12-7, on Saturday afternoon at the 2024 MCLA National Championships presented by New Balance.

A championship was not looking great for Montana State (20-2) after the first quarter, as St. Thomas (18-3) raced out to a 3-1 lead, capped off by rip from Sammy Ness.

As it did against top-seeded Air Force in its upset victory on Thursday, the Bobcats owned the second quarter. Matt Bess started the second with a marker and was followed less than a minute later by a deep shot from Vernon Loucks to tie the game at three.

Mekhi Davis connected to give Montana State its first lead of the game with 7:56 left to go in the half before Ethan Buskey used a spin dodge to tie it back up for the Tommies at four.

Jonathan Serrell returned the lead the Bobcats after converting a dish from Dexter Tedesco. With just 19 seconds left in the half, Loucks provided Montana State its biggest lead of the game, 6-4.

Loucks was at it again three minutes into the third period to notch the hat trick and balloon the advantage to 7-4. St. Thomas slowed the Bobcat momentum 58 seconds later on a Henry Claridge tally to cut the margin to 7-5, but that was as close as the Tommies would get the rest of the way.

Montana State outscored St. Thomas, 5-2, over the final 19:12 of the contest to pull away and post the 12-7 triumph.

Serrell joined Loucks with hat tricks for the Bobcats while Davis had two goals and a dime. Ethan Zwickey was credited with 12 saves in the win.

Gunner Arens had nine saves for the Tommies. Buskey led the way in scoring with two goals while Claridge added a goal and an assist.