Louis Wills scored three times, including the game-winner, to lead Arizona over FIU

TUCSON, ARIZONA - Louis Wills (Jr., Chicago, IL) and Alex Negronida (Jr., Evanston, IL) recorded hat-tricks to lead the University of Arizona past Florida International University 11-9 in the quarterfinals of the 2007 National Collegiate Club Championship hosted by the Wildcats.

Arizona was forced to comeback to win the game as the Wildcats trailed 4-3 with 3:02 left in the first half. The team rallied to carry a 5-4 advantage into halftime as Willis scored on a direct shot at 2:42 and Taylor Knowles (Fr., Seattle, WA) tossed a layout lob on a counter to put the Wildcats in front to stay.

The lead ballooned to 8-4 in the opening minutes of the third period as Ben Weiss (Sr., Irvine, CA) went weakside on a counter at 4:57 and Todd Carpenter (Sr., Riverside, CA) used a pair of skip shots over the shoulder of FIU goalie Theo Jenetopolus (So., Miami, FL) at 2:55 and 2:23 to put the Wildcats ahead by four goals.

FIU responded by cutting the deficit down to two goals by the end of the period as Alex Lipin (Fr., Miami, FL) buried a five-meter at 2:01 and hit a sweep shot from five-meters out at 40 seconds as the Golden Panthers trailed 8-6 with seven minutes to play.

Florida International trimmed the lead to a goal in the dawn of the fourth period when Mario Mora (Fr., Miami, FL) finished a pass from Lipin on an exclusion opportunity at the 6:18 mark, but Arizona ripped off three goals in a minute to go ahead 11-8.

Wills fueled the spurt scoring on counters at 4:48 and 4:19 before Negronida tacked on an insurance goal off a two-on-one counter at 3:48 to give Arizona an 11-8 lead.

FIU attempted to comeback, but the Wildcats' defense bent, but did not break, allowing goals to Alex Martinez (Sr., Miami, FL) and Lipin at 2:55 and 2:15, respectively, for the 11-9 final.

In goal, Evan Zaggy (So., St, Louis, MO) made eight saves for Arizona, while Jenetopolus stopped seven shots for FIU.

Arizona advances to face #1 nationally ranked Michigan State University at 8:40 p.m. this evening with a berth in the national title game on the line. Florida International will face the University of Pennsylvania with a shot at the fifth place game at stake.

Arizona Goals -- Louis Wills (3); Alex Negronida (2); Todd Carpenter (2); David Brookbank (2); Taylor Knowles; Ben Weiss

FIU Goals -- Alex Luis (3); Alex Lipin (3); Mario Mora (2); Alex Martinez

Arizona Assists -- Alex Negronida

FIU Assists -- Alex Lipin

Saves: Arizona - Evan Zaggy (8) ; FIU - Theo Jenetopolus (7)

Ejections: Arizona - 8 ; FIU - 7

Sprints: Arizona - 3 ; FIU - 1