GAME INFORMATION
NAIA Tournament Quarterfinals
Score: No. 7 Keiser 7, No. 2 Indiana Tech 9
Records: No. 7 Keiser (8-7), No. 2 Indiana Tech (16-2)
Location: Aquinas College Athletic Field, Grand Rapids, Mich.

KU HIGHLIGHTS

• Both Keiser and Indiana Tech were making their third appearance at the NAIA Tournament.
• Freshman, Ryan Johnson was instrumental in the attack, notching his fourth hat-trick of the season while also adding an assist.
• Brandon Benitez finished with a goal and a game-high two assists.
• Aaron Collins went 9-of-19 in the faceoff circle while Marco Olortegui was exceptional in net, stopping 14 shots and scooping up a game-high seven ground balls.
• Defensively, Emmanuel Walker had six ground balls and Hunter East had a team-best three caused turnovers.

TURNING POINT
Keiser was well-within striking distance of the Warriors after two scores early in the final period, but Indiana Tech's high-powered offense once again formulated a response to maintain the upper hand.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• On a chilly and wet day on the campus of Aquinas College, the Seahawks and Warriors played a low-scoring opening quarter as the defense and goalkeepers were locked in early.
• The Warriors came into the game ranked second in the NAIA in both points and goals, but it wasn't until the 6:43 mark of quarter one that Indiana Tech opened the scoring.
• Keiser responded with 3:24 on the clock as Benitez found Johnson in front of the net to tie it up at a goal apiece, and the score remained that way at the end of the quarter.
• Just 49 seconds into the second quarter, Sharpe scored on a nifty bounce shot off a pass from Senior as the Seahawks held their first lead of the game, 2-1.
• However, Indiana Tech accounted for the next three goals including a pair of man-up goals to lead 4-2 with 6:23 remaining in the opening half.
• East produced an unassisted goal by moving up the left side, beating a defender and firing it home to bring the score to 4-3 with 4:42 until the halftime whistle.
• Neither team produced another goal as the Seahawks went into the break trailing No. 2 Indiana Tech by a goal.
• The Warriors tallied their third man-up goal of the contest at the 13:41 mark of the third quarter as the Keiser deficit stood at 5-3.
• Keiser broke through for the first time in the second half with 4:28 showing when Benitez snagged a pass from Johnson to make it a a one-goal game, 5-4, Indiana Tech.
• The Warriors netted the next two goals to extended their lead to 7-4 as the game moved to the fourth quarter.
• The Seahawks offense got off to a great start to the last 15 minutes of play, as Johnson made an effective cut off the ball and received a pass from Cruz Waerness for his second goal of the game just 14 seconds into the fourth.
• Less than a minute later, Johnson struck again to complete his hat-trick, corralling the dish from Tyler Kalmowitz as the Seahawks deficit was reduced to a goal, 7-6.
• Indiana Tech halted the KU momentum by snagging the games next two goals to lead 9-6 with 10:54 left in regulation.
• Senior scored the final goal of the game off a pass from Benitez at the 4:47 as the Seahawks fell in the NAIA Quarterfianls for a second straight year, 9-7.

TEAM LEADERS
No. 7 Keiser
Points: Johnson (4)
Goals: Johnson (3)
Assists: Benitez (2)
Faceoffs: Collins (9-of-19)
Ground Balls: Olortegui (7)
Caused Turnovers: Fults (3)
Saves: Olortegui (14)
 
No. 2 Indiana Tech
Points: Peterson (4)
Goals: Peterson (3)
Assists: Puckett (2)
Faceoffs: Neller (10-of-19)
Ground Balls: Neller (7)
Caused Turnovers: Reyes/Piotrowski (2)
Saves: Schuster (8)