CSU Fullerton came into Nationals as the WCRHL’s number 2 team, but a top 8 team for sure. Seated in one of the top 2 pools, their only blemish was a 6-1 loss in game 1 against Grand Valley State. Due to pool play tie breakers, Fullerton came out the #3 seed in their pool and theoretically a tougher path to the championship game. In their 3 elimination games before the final, Fullerton was never ahead by more than 3 goals, and in their semifinal game they went to overtime with Kennesaw State, winning that battle by a score of 2-1.

Grand Valley was also part of that pool play tie breaker, earning the #2 seed in their pool. Grand Valley had more scoring in their path to the final, defeating Northeastern 6-1, UMass 7-3, and Cal Poly in the semifinal with a 5-3 come from behind win.

In the final, it was Fullerton going up early, 3:42 into the game on a goal from Ethan Flores. Fullerton scored 2 in the 2^nd, one being a shorthanded goal by Andrew Won. Grand Valley scored their first of the game with just 1:01 remaining in the 2^nd, on the power play by Hunter Carnell. Grand Valley’s Cody Hagen scored 2:09 into the 3^rd, bringing the lead to 1. The remainder of the 3^rd period was scoreless, with Grand Valley throwing double the amount of shots at Fullerton’s goaltender Ron Best. Best turned aside all but 1 shot in the 3rd. Grand Valley’s push resulted in them pulling the goaltender late in the game, but 2 empty net goals by Fullerton’s Dylan Kammer closed out the scoring and the 5-2 win for the D2 National Championship, their 3^rd National Championship in the last 6 years.