ROUND ROCK, Texas – Top-seeded Brigham Young used an 8-0 run bridging the first and second quarters and that proved to be the final margin as the Cougars defeated No. 4 Liberty, 20-12, to earn a trip in to the Division I finals of the 2024 MCLA National Championships presented by New Balance.

Liberty (14-5) started the scoring on the day on the first of Will Geary’s four goals, but then BYU (18-0) took over, scoring the final three goals of the first quarter by opening the second with five more. Max Roberts and Jake Halversen cashed in for a pair of goals each during the run.

The two teams traded goals to finish the half, sending the Cougars to the locker room with a 9-2 advantage.

BYU started the third quarter by scoring five of the first six goals, pushing the lead to 14-3. Still trailing 16-5 at the start of the fourth quarter, the Flames went on a mini run, scoring four of the first five goals in the final stanza to trim the lead to 17-9.

The two traded goals down the stretch for the 20-12 final.

The Cougars were aided by dominant faceoff play in the first half, including goals straight off the faceoff from Bennett Malley. Halversen was credited with five goals while Alton Taylor chipped in with two goals and three assists.

Easton Wilkey was credited with seven saves for the Cougars while Eric Warnstrom and Ian Carvajal combined for 11 stops for Liberty.

BYU will face the winner of the Utah Valley-UC Santa Barbara semifinal. It will be the Cougars sixth appearance the Division I championship game.