CSU Fullerton Wins Division II Title
3rd title in 6 years for the Titans
April 23rd, 2019 at 1:05AM April 23rd, 2019 6:10AM
CSU Fullerton came into Nationals as the WCRHL’s number 2 team, but a top 8 team for sure. Seated in one of the top 2 pools, their only blemish was a 6-1 loss in game 1 against Grand Valley State. Due to pool play tie breakers, Fullerton came out the #3 seed in their pool and theoretically a tougher path to the championship game. In their 3 elimination games before the final, Fullerton was never ahead by more than 3 goals, and in their semifinal game they went to overtime with Kennesaw State, winning that battle by a score of 2-1.
Grand Valley was also part of that pool play tie breaker, earning the #2 seed in their pool. Grand Valley had more scoring in their path to the final, defeating Northeastern 6-1, UMass 7-3, and Cal Poly in the semifinal with a 5-3 come from behind win.
In the final, it was Fullerton going up early, 3:42 into the game on a goal from Ethan Flores. Fullerton scored 2 in the 2nd, one being a shorthanded goal by Andrew Won. Grand Valley scored their first of the game with just 1:01 remaining in the 2nd, on the power play by Hunter Carnell. Grand Valley’s Cody Hagen scored 2:09 into the 3rd, bringing the lead to 1. The remainder of the 3rd period was scoreless, with Grand Valley throwing double the amount of shots at Fullerton’s goaltender Ron Best. Best turned aside all but 1 shot in the 3rd. Grand Valley’s push resulted in them pulling the goaltender late in the game, but 2 empty net goals by Fullerton’s Dylan Kammer closed out the scoring and the 5-2 win for the D2 National Championship, their 3rd National Championship in the last 6 years.
