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For the first time since 2005, the third-seeded Lycoming College men's soccer team will enter the MAC Freedom Championship, facing off with second-seeded Misericordia University on Thursday at 7 p.m., at Mangelsdorf Field.
The Warriors (10-5-4 overall, 6-2 MAC Freedom), ranked fifth in the latest NCAA Region IV poll, are facing a Misericordia team that is ranked seventh, while No. 4-seed FDU-Florham takes on the nation’s fourth-ranked team, Stevens, in the other semifinal. The championship game is set for Saturday at the highest remaining seed.
The Warriors are making their final appearance in a Middle Atlantic Conference Championship before moving to the Landmark Conference in the 2023-24 academic year. Lycoming appeared in eight MAC Commonwealth Championships between 2008-19, winning three titles and advancing to the championship six times. Prior to that, the Warriors made three appearances in the MAC Freedom Championship between 2001-07, appearing in the title game in 2004. The Warriors also made three appearances in the combined MAC Championship between 1994-99, taking trips to the finals in 1994 and 1999.
Lycoming averaged 1.74 goals per game during a 19-game regular-season where they played seven regionally-ranked opponents and allowed 1.11 goals per contest, the fourth-best mark in the MAC Freedom. The Warriors lead the conference with 6.68 corner kicks per game and the team's +12 goal differential is third-best in the league.
Lycoming has used a balanced offensive attack throughout the year, with freshman Keller Chamovitz leading the group, sitting 10th in the league with 15 points (.79 per game) with five goals and five assists. Sophomore Owen Magee also has five goals and his four game-winning goals are tied for 27th in Division III.
The Warrior defense is paced by the senior duo of Brayden Wise and Joey Francis, while junior goalkeeper Nick Wilke is stopping 75 percent of shots that he sees in his second year as a starter, which has helped him to post five shutouts this year.
Misericordia finished the regular season 11-3-4 overall and with an identical 6-2 mark in the MAC Freedom, but earned the tiebreaker for the No. 2 seed with Lycoming thanks to a 3-1 win over the Warriors on Oct. 11, as Max Gariano posted a goal and an assist to lead the team.