Men's Soccer | 11/8/2025 4:10:00 PM
GROVE CITY, Pa. (pacathletics.org) - For the first time since 2005, the Grove City College men's soccer team are Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) champions after the Wolverines made a first-half goal stand for a 1-0 victory over Franciscan University in Saturday's Championship match at Grove City.
It's the third PAC title for top-seeded Grove City (15-2-2) in program history, adding this season to crowns won in 2005 and 1996. Second-seed Franciscan, who was making their third straight appearance in the PAC final, sees their record fall to 10-9-2.
Both teams generated opportunities in the first 10 minutes, with each earning a corner and one shot by Franciscan and two by Grove City. The first major chance came 11:45 into the half when Franciscan was awarded a penalty shot following a Wolverine foul in the box. Grove City freshman keeper Keller Krieger (Jacksonville, Fla./Providence) stepped up to deny the shot headed for the lower left corner of the net to keep the match scoreless.
It didn't remain that way for long, as Grove City used the momentum from the key save to strike first. In the 17th minute, a ball played down the right side that sophomore Luke Ladas (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany Hills) played into the box to sophomore Evan Yoder (Milton, Pa./Milton). He left a pass for senior Aidan Eck (Akron, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian), who eluded a defender and lifted a shot into the upper left corner for the match's first goal and a 1-0 Wolverines' lead.
There would be numerous other opportunities for each side before halftime. Grove City finished the opening half with an 8-6 advantage in shots, but the Barons had four corners compared to one for the Wolverines. Franciscan put five of their chances on net, but Krieger had a big first half with five saves, including another stellar stop with just under five minutes before the break, diving to his right to smother a shot from the right wing.
Both teams would continue to create chances in the second half, but the goalkeepers made big saves when tested. Franciscan junior Aiden Miller (Galena, Ohio/Olentangy Berlin), who had one stop in the first half, made four more saves in the second half, including a key stop in the 77th minute. That came just after a Baron opportunity nearly led to the tying goal, but the play was whistled dead due to a Franciscan offside.
Any other potential scoring opportunities for the Barons would be snuffed out by Krieger. The first-year Grove City keeper added three saves to his first-half total to finish the afternoon with eight. The last chance for Franciscan came in the final minute when Baron senior Lucas Cross (Clarkston, Mich./Everest Collegiate) gathered in a loose ball in the box. He managed to shake off a defender to get a crack of daylight and ripped off a shot that Krieger punched over the crossbar. Franciscan had a corner as time ticked down, but the delivery into the box was cleared away and the Wolverines held on for the win and their first PAC title in 20 years.
Grove City finished the match with a 14-11 advantage in shots, while Franciscan had an 8-5 margin in shots on goal and 6-2 in corners for the afternoon.
Following the Tournament, Grove City senior midfielder Camden Thomas (North Lima, Ohio/South Range) was named the PAC Tournament's Most Outstanding Player, while Krieger and Eck were named to the All-Tournament Team.
The victory gives the Wolverines the PAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which will be the first time Grove City will play in the national tournament since 1980 and fourth time overall (1976, 1962). Selections for the 64-team Division III Championship will be announced Monday, Nov. 10. First and second round match ups are scheduled for Friday-Saturday, Nov. 14-15.