ERIE, Pa. – A clash of the titans from the North Region and the Great Midwest Athletic Conference was another entertaining matchup, this time the finale of the championship tournament going down at Saxon Field.
 
The top two seeds put it all on the line with NCAA seeding possibly at stake while No. 1 seed and conference regular season champion Mercyhurst prevailed on their home field by a score of 11-7 over No. 2 Seton Hill.
 
Since joining the conference as associate members in the 2016-17 academic year, Seton Hill (2017, 2018) and Mercyhurst (2019, 2021) have reigned supreme in the four-seed postseason bracket.
 
The Lakers completed a tough repeat after a promising spring season for all Great Midwest programs was cut short due to COVID in 2020.
 
Mercyhurst and Seton Hill had plenty of all-conference representation at all positions on the field as both programs look to be essential locks for even a reduced field in the NCAA Championship bracket.
 
Zach Lorenz was the high man for the Lakers with three goals to lead all players. Conference offensive player of the year Caleb Kueber scored twice along with teammates Jacob Emerson and Bryce Johnson.
 
Nathan Grenon cashed in with just a few seconds left before halftime with a wicked left-handed shot that gave Mercyhurst a 7-3 cushion.
 
The Lakers stormed out of the gates with an impressive 4-0 first period showing, but the Griffins showed signs of life in the second period with their first goal on the board posted by Ryan Manbeck.
 
Emerson answered, but then Jeremy Sforzo scored with a man up and then Great Midwest Goalkeeper of the Year Kevin Mo bounced one in to make it a 6-3 game. Kueber and Thomas Hanulak each traded a pair of goals.
 
The Griffins did win the second half by a 4-3 tally but it was just a little short in the final outcome.