Men's Soccer | 11/6/2025 1:59:00 AM

TRAFFORD, Pa. (pacathletics.org) - The Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Men's Soccer Tournament Championship Match is set after No. 1 Grove City College and No. 2 Franciscan University secured convincing wins in Wednesday's semifinals to put both programs in the title match for the second year in a row.

Grove City (14-2-2) used a goal in each half and a stellar defensive effort that didn't allow a shot on goal in claiming a 2-0 victory over fifth-seeded Geneva College. The other semifinal saw Franciscan (10-8-2) take a 2-0 first-half lead over No. 3 Allegheny College and pull away for a 5-2 win. 

The Wolverines will host the final Saturday, with kickoff against the Barons scheduled for 1 pm. The PAC Sports Network will broadcast the Championship match, which fans can watch Here.

In the afternoon semifinal, Grove City grabbed a 1-0 lead 11:12 into the game when junior midfielder Noah Gray (Glen Mills, Pa./The Christian Academy) curled a corner kick into the net for his conference-best 14th goal of the season. The score would give Gray his team-leading fourth game-winning goal this year.

The Wolverines then sealed the win with six minutes remaining in regulation as junior forward Ryan Merrick (Cranberry Township, Pa./Eden Christian) blasted in his fifth goal of the season. Junior defender Colton Hudson (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) assisted Merrick's insurance goal at 84:01.

Grove City's defense did not allow Geneva (7-10-2) to record a shot on goal and the Wolverines held an overall 13-5 edge in shots, while also maintaining a 5-4 advantage in corners. Wolverine freshman goalkeeper Keller Krieger (Jacksonville, Fla./Providence) was credited with the shutout victory.

Making the start in net for the Golden Tornadoes was freshman Noah Buchanan (Evansville, Ind./Mater Dei), who made six saves.

In the evening semifinal in Steubenville, defending PAC champion Franciscan opened the scoring with a goal from senior Lucas Cross (Clarkston, Mich./Everest Collegiate) in the 25th minute. After having a potential second goal cleared away by the Allegheny defense four minutes later, the Barons did tack on their second score in the 30th minute on an unassisted goal from freshman Andrew Goduti (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier). 

In the closing seconds of the first half, Allegheny (8-8-5) sliced the home team's lead in half when freshman Lucas Henderson (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) headed in a ball sent in from midfield by sophomore Colin Hill (Volant, Pa./Wilmington) to make it a 2-1 score at the break.

Franciscan's attack turned up the pressure to begin the second half, launching four shots, with two on goal, in the first eight minutes. The Barons extended their lead back to two goals in the 55th minute when Goduti notched his second of the match. 

The final 15 minutes saw a flurry of goals, beginning with Cross scoring his second off an assist from graduate student Aidan Henninger (Sequim, Wash./Sequim) in the 75th minute. The Gators answered back immediately on a goal by sophomore Ben Keefer (Zelienople, Pa./Seneca Valley) only 37 seconds later to make it a two-goal match again at 4-2. That proved to be Allegheny's final goal and Franciscan would cap the scoring on a goal by junior Aidan Mahoney (Westford, Mass./Westford Academy) with just over two minutes to play.

The Barons posted an 18-11 advantage in shots on the night, including a 10-3 margin in shots on goal. Both teams finished the match with five corner kicks apiece.

In the regular season meeting between Grove City and Franciscan on Oct. 15th, which was also played at Grove City, the Wolverines won by a 4-2 count behind a pair of goals from junior Camden Thomas (North Lima, Ohio/South Range).

Both programs have two PAC championships to their credit. Franciscan's have come in the last three years, including a 2-1 victory over Grove City in last year's final. The Wolverines will be trying to win their first PAC title since 2005, while their other championship was a share of the 1996 crown.