ATLANTA – Montana is returning to nationals for the first time since 2007 thanks to the efforts of freshman faceoff man Luke Johnson, who earned MCLA Division II Commanding Performance of the Week powered by Under Armour for the period ending April 30.

At the PNCLL tournament in Burnaby, B.C., Montana downed a red-hot Great Falls team thanks to an 18-for-23 performance on draws by Johnson along with 12 ground balls and a goal in the 16-6 victory.

In the finals against undefeated and 17th-ranked College of Idaho, the Rome, Ga., native won 18-of-21 faceoffs and gobbled up another dozen ground balls in a 12-9 win.

For the weekend, he won 36-of-44 faceoffs (81.8%) with 24 ground balls and a score.

“Luke was incredible for us in our conference playoffs,” said Montana coach Tucker Sargent. “He completely controlled the games for us. Without Luke's dominant performance at the X, I don't think we would necessarily be the conference champions having faced two great teams in Great Falls and College of Idaho.”

For his efforts in earning the Commanding Performance of the Week powered by Under Armour, Johnson will receive a new Under Armour Command Head – a $100 value. Under Armour is the proud sponsor of the MCLA.

Under Armour Honor Roll

Brooks Armitage, Sr. – St. John’s
The attackman factored in two-thirds of the Johnnies production (5g, 1a) in a 9-6 win over top seed Duluth and then added two goals and two dimes in a loss to St. Thomas.

Monte Bordeaux, Jr. – Missouri State
He buried three goals and set up three others as the Bears qualified for nationals with a 12-6 victory over Creighton.

Alex Brownlee, Jr. – Sierra Nevada
He led the Eagles to the WCLL title with five goals and an assist in the 13-4 triumph over UC Davis on Sunday. He chipped in with a hat trick in the semifinal romp of Humboldt State.

Brandon Mayo, Soph. – Concordia-Irvine
The Eagles dropped the hammer on Northern Arizona in the SLC championship game, 24-6, and Mayo accounted for seven of the goals. He added a pair against Fullerton.

Ryan McNeil, Sr. – St. Thomas
The attackman helped sink North Dakota State with two goals and an assists and the followed that up with a hat trick and two helpers in the UMLC title victory against St. John’s