Men's Soccer | 11/7/2026 11:58:00 PM
TRAFFORD, Pa. (pacathletics.org) - Second-seeded Allegheny College took the PAC Men's Soccer Tournament Championship match through overtime and defeated No. 1 Grove City College 4-1 in a penalty kick shootout to capture the Gators' first PAC crown since 1978.
The teams battled to a 1-1 draw through regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods before the Gators came away with the title following the five-round PK shootout.
The win gives Allegheny (12-6-2) its first conference championship since 2004 when the Gators won the North Coast Athletic Conference title and their first PAC crown since 1978 in their first stint in the PAC.
PAC Championship - Grove City, Pa.
No. 2 Allegheny 1, No. 1 Grove City 1 (ALL Wins on PKs, 4-1)
- Grove City (12-2-6) controlled the action for much of the first half, firing off the game's first 10 shots and building an 11-5 margin in shots in the opening half.
- The Wolverines broke through for the first goal in the 26th minute when senior Theo Campbell (Robinson Township, Pa./Robinson Township Christian) delivered a corner kick into the box and senior Ryan Merrick (Cranberry Township, Pa./Eden Christian) finished for a 1-0 Grove City lead.
- The Wolverines managed four shots on target before halftime, but Allegheny junior keeper Cadan Bennett (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland) stopped the other three to keep it a 1-0 score at halftime.
- Allegheny was turning that momentum late in the first half and it carried over through the second, as the Gators outshot the home team 7-4 in the second half.
- The equalizing goal came in the 66th minute when the Gators earned a free kick following a foul, which senior Will Gruca (Baden, Pa./Ambridge) delivered into the box. Junior Ben Keefer (Zelienople, Pa./Seneca Valley) got his foot on the ball and his shot found the back of the net to even the score at 1-1.
- The match carried through the rest of regulation with only one shot on goal, which Grove City sophomore goalkeeper Keller Krieger (Jacksonville, Fla./Providence) saved, and the game went to overtime.
- There weren't many high-quality chances in the extra periods, with only five combined shots between the teams anf Krieger made the only save.
- Once in PKs, both teams converted their initial round. After Allegheny made their second attempt, Bennett made a diving save going to his left and the Gators had the advantage.
- In round three, the Gators were successful again, but Grove City's try hit off the cross bar.
- Needing just one to win, Allegheny junior Micah Khembo (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Catholic) stepped in and buried a low shot to win the championship.
- Both Bennett and Krieger made three saves in the game.
PAC Championship Notes
- This was the first PAC Tournament Championship match decided by PKs since 2015 when Westminster won over Geneva, 4-2.
- With the PK decision, Allegheny secures the PAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
- It will be Allegheny's first NCAA appearance since 2004 when the Gators, who won the NCAC Tournament that year on PKs, also won their first two NCAA matches in shootouts to reach the Sweet Sixteen.
- The Gators ended the regular season and PAC Tournament on a 12-match unbeaten streak (10-0-2).
- The field and pairings for the NCAA Tournament will be announced Monday, Nov. 9th on NCAA.com.
All-Tournament Team
- Gruca, who had a goal in the semifinal win over Geneva and an assist and converted PK in the title game, was selected as the PAC Tournament MVP.
- Junior Colin Hill (Volant, Pa./Wilmington) and senior Cole Bowser (Forest Hill, Md./John Carroll) were also named to the PAC All-Tournament Team.
- For Grove City, seniors Noah Gray (Glen Mills, Pa./The Christian Academy) and Colton Hudson (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) were selected for All-Tournament honors.