Game 28 – Grand Valley State University vs. Michigan State University

Jon Haga earned Most Valuable Player honors and head coach Brian Fickies was named the National Coach of the Year as Michigan State University edged Grand Valley State University 6-4 to capture the 2006 National Collegiate Club Championship at Miami University (OH).

The title avenges a 9-8 loss by Michigan State to Grand Valley State in last year's National Championship game at Williams College and marks the second crown in the history of the Spartans program as Michigan State knocked off the University of Washington in 2000.

Michigan State overcame a 1-0 lead by the Lakers in the first period as Grand Valley's Chris Vredeveld registered a goal with 37 seconds left in the period. The Spartans erased the lead at 5:23 of the second period as Evan Perry dodged his way through the Grand Valley defense and deposited a shot past goalie Kirk Kauffman to knot the game at 1-1. Haga gave his team the lead for good at 2:03 as he banged a shot past MSU goalie Jared Swider for a 2-1 advantage. The lead grew to 4-1 by halftime as Matt Shaffer and Haga tacked on scores at 2:03 and 1:31, respectively, to carry a three goal lead into intermission.

Grand Valley attempted to fight its way back into the game as Chris Posthumus scored at 4:33, but MSU's Greg Jenkins answered at 3:24 to keep the Spartans in front 5-2 entering the fourth period.

The Lakers defense stiffened and their offense exploded in the fourth as Posthumus scored a man-up tally at 6:05 and Zach Heathman beat Kauffman at 3:44 to set the score at 5-4 in favor of Michigan State. However, the Spartans defense locked down in front of the cage and Haga clinched the win for his team by completing a hat-trick with 3:23 to play as Michigan State held on to take the national title.

In goal, Swider finished with five saves and the win for the Spartans, while Kauffman made eight saves in the loss for Grand Valley.

GVSU Goals: Chris Posthumus (2); Chris Vredeveld; Zach Heathman

MSU Goals: Jon Haga (3); Greg Jenkins; Evan Perry; Matt Schaffer

GVSU Goalie Saves: Kirk Kauffman (8)

MSU Goalie Saves: Jared Swider (5)

Ejections:GVSU 0, MSU 6

Sprints: GVSU 3, MSU 1

Tournament MVP Jon Haga prepares to shoot against Grand Valley State University

Coach of the Year Brian Fickies