Game 3 – University of Arizona vs. Virginia Polytechnic Institute

Eric Qualls scored five goals, while Alex Negronida and Alex Kane each chipped in pairs of scores, as the University of Arizona rolled to a 14-3 victory over Virginia Tech in the first round of the 2006 National Collegiate Club Championship at Miami University (OH).

The Wildcats jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the game and were never challenged again as Qualls scored an even strength goal at 5:03 and an exlcusion goal at 4:09 before Kane and Robert Seeley found the back of the net with blasts at 1:21 and 11 seconds, respectively, for a 4-0 lead at the end of the first period.

Arizona's defense maintained its shutout bid in the second period holding the Hokies to a pair of shots, while Todd Carpenter deked his defender and netted an even strength goal at 5:02 for a 5-0 lead at halftime.

Virginia Tech shattered the shutout try at 6:39 of the third period as Rory Brannan ripped a blast from outside to cut the lead to 5-1. Arizona countered the score with back-to-back-to-back goals as Qualls scored at 5:38, John D'Amico registered a goal at 5:05 and Qualls bounced a shot off the water and into the cage at 3:47 to push the lead out to 8-1. The teams then traded goals as VT's Chris Roil pulled the Hokies back to within six goals, but Qualls countered for Arizona pounding a shot past Virginia Tech goalie Andrew Zirkelbach 17 seconds later for a 9-2 lead.

The Wildcats continued to score as Arizona strung together five more goals after Qualls marker at 3:15 for a 14-2 lead with 3:17 left in the fourth period. Virginia Tech finsihed the game by tallying its third goal as Alec Loung scored with 2:47 left on the game clock for the 14-3 final.

Goalie Remington Franklin was a hero of the game for Arizona as he finished with seven saves to earn the win, while Zirkelbach took the loss with four saves.

Arizona will continue the tournament at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 18 as the Wildcats will take on the winner of a first round match-up between the University of Texas and Columbia University. Virginia Tech will face the loser of the Texas-Columbia game at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 17.

Arizona Goals: Eric Qualls (5); Alex Negronida (2); Alex Kane (2); John D'Amico; Karta Khalsa; Robert Seeley; Tony Schultz; Todd Carpenter

VT Goals: Rory Brannan; Alec Loung; Chris Roil

Arizona Goalie Saves: Remington Franklin (7)

VT Goalie Saves: Andrew Zirkelbach (4)

Ejections: Arizona 1, VT 6

Sprints: Arizona 3, VT 1

Remington Franklin makes one of his seven saves versus Virginia Tech