Game 22 – University of Texas vs. Florida International University

Florida International University goalie Alex Martinez made 10 saves to lead the Golden Panthers to a 9-7 victory over the University of Texas at the 2006 National Collegiate Club Championship at Miami University (OH).

Courtesy the win Florida International will take on Wililams College on Sunday, November 19 at 10:15 a.m. in the fifth place match, while Texas will meet the University of Washington at 9:00 a.m. in the seventh place game on November 19.

The Panthers took the lead early and held on through a series of Texas rallies to take the victory.

Damien Martinez opend the scoring for FIU by finishing a pass from Jason Cassanova at the 1:34 mark of the first period before Chris Arias netted a goal off a counter with three ticks left on the clock for a 2-0 lead.

The lead grew to three at 6:10 of the second period as Alex Mendoza spinned couterclockwise and unleashed a two meter shot into the upper right corner of the cage to give the Panthers a 3-0 margin. Texas shaved the lead down to a pair of scores 13 seconds later as Tom Andrew went backdoor to pull the Longhorns to within 3-1. FIU and Texas then traded goals as Mendoza scored on a one-one-one opportunity at 4:18 and Texas' Mitch Halquist ripped a shot into the upper left 90 of the cage to keep the Longhorns within 4-2 with 4:03 in the first half.

FIU cushioned its lead in the final three minutes of the half as Casanova collected a rebound and beat Texas goalie Jon D'Andrea for a 5-2 edge before Arias uncorked a shot into the center of the cage with 11 seconds remaining in the second period for a 6-2 lead at intermission.

The margin ballooned to five goals with 3:38 left in the third period as Danny Martinez scored off a lead pass from Cassanova to go in front 7-2. Texas responded with a goal by Charlie Wood off a counter at 2:16, but the Panthers kept pace as Andy Alvarez scored on a shot from the outside over the head and between the outstretched arms of D'Andrea with 31 seconds left in the third period for an 8-3 lead.

Florida International added to its lead with 6:25 remaining in the fourth period as Arias tallied a counter goal to go ahead 9-3, but the Longhorns charged back with a 4-0 run to make it a game over the final six minutes of play.

The star of the run was Wood who scored into the lower corner of the cage for an advantage goal at 5:55, went cross cage for another goal at 5:21 and punched in another advantage goal at 4:16 to will the Longhorns to within 9-6 with four minutes to play.

However, the Panters' defense locked down in front of the cage and Martinez swatted away four shots before Matt Tanner scored an advantage goal with six seconds left on the game clock for the 9-7 final.

The victory guarantees that FIU will improve upon their previous best finish in the national championship tournament as the Golden Panthers placed seventh in 2005.

Texas Goals: Charlie Wood (4); Matt Tanner; Mitch Halquist; Tom Andrew

FIU Goals: Chris Arias (3); Alex Mendoza (2); Jason Casanova; Danny Martinez; Damien Martinez; Andy Alvarez

Texas Goalie Saves: Jon D'Andrea (7)

FIU Goalie Saves: Alex Martinez (10)

Ejections: Texas 5, FIU 9

Sprints: Texas 4, FIU 0

Texas goalie Jon D'Andrea prepares to make a save against Florida International