by Matt Koll
The sheer dominance has continued. The Wolverines of Grove City are the top seed after an undefeated season in conference play, looking for their fifth…yes, fifth, consecutive championship. Can they be stopped? What makes this team different from the previous winners? Let’s dive in…
#1 GROVE CITY WOLVERINES (13-4, 8-0 PAC)
No other way to put it: this program is a powerhouse. Not only did the Wolverines finish the season with a perfect record in PAC play, but they have not lost a single PAC game since head coach Alec Jernstedt arrived. The record now stands at 36-0 over seven seasons. Talk about powerhouse. So how did Jernstedt build it?
“We have had such awesome support from the school, from President [Paul] McNulty to [Athletic Director] Todd Gibson, we have everything we need to be successful. The men have been able to embrace the culture that we’ve set out for them and just chase excellence every day so it’s been awesome to see the success follow for them.”
These Wolverines lead the conference in just about every major category, scoring 36 more goals than any other team, giving up 19 fewer goals than any other team, all while leading in shot percentage, save percentage and scoring margin.
Get this…in their eight conference games, Grove City has outscored their opponents by a combined score of 194-32. That’s an average score of 24-4.
“I think this might be the best team we’ve ever had just because it’s the most complete,” said Jernstedt. “Particularly defensively we are significantly better than we have been as well as our overall depth. We have the offensive output we’ve always had, an improved defense and great special teams between FO and goalie play. I think our balance is our biggest strength.”
“Our team is always trying to play to the identity of the core values of our program: Be your Best, Love Deeply, and Be Eternally Focused,” said Jernstedt. “If we do those things off the field and then on game day, we will find a way to maximize our ability and play our best. I hope that we are peaking right now and I think it comes down to finding ways to get better every day so that we can find a way to extend our season by a few more days.”
Grove City defeated semifinal opponent Westminster 20-7 in the regular season matchup. We’ll see if this team can be slowed in any way in this tournament.
#2 ALLEGHENY GATORS (9-6, 7-1 PAC)
Outside of a loss to Grove City just a couple of weeks ago, the Gators put together a spotless conference season. Only Chatham and Saint Vincent came within three goals of them when the clock hit zero this season.
“The team has evolved throughout the season by embracing our culture and playing fast,” said head coach Jeff Roberts. “If you asked the guys they would tell you that we are having fun playing the game that they love. The guys have bought into the new system of playing fast and creating transition and implementing our ride. Through this I’ve seen our guys’ confidence soar because they are having fun and making plays and they feel empowered.”
This team loves to get out and run, playing as fast as they can and letting their players make decisions with the ball throughout the game and have some fun. Roberts has been pleased by their effort in working for the entire game, regardless of the score.
Allegheny also owns a weapon in net, as goalie Garin Stearns owns the highest save percentage of those who have started double-digit games. But, the potentially big mountain to climb in the end is Grove City.
“Grove City is a well-coached team and they have it rolling right now,” Roberts said. “What I learned in our first meeting is that we have to be ready for the moment and embrace the opportunity if we are lucky enough to get to a rematch. Stay in the moment and just do what we do. Win, lose, or draw, I am so proud of the guys and what they have achieved this season.”
#3 SAINT VINCENT BEARCATS (8-8, 6-2 PAC)
The Bearcats will be looking to ride the momentum from a four-game winning streak to end the regular season. During that stretch, they outscored their opponents 63-16 and scored 17 goals in three straight games. They had only scored that many goals in one game prior to that, an early season match against non-conference opponent Wooster.
Saint Vincent also boasts the best penalty-killing percentage in the conference at .803.
In the regular season matchup with semifinal opponent Allegheny, the Bearcats overcame an early 4-1 deficit to take a 5-4 lead. Then early in the 3rd, they tied the game at nine before Allegheny scored four unanswered goals and ultimately won by a 15-12 final score.
Maybe they found an extra gear during this winning streak to get them to the championship match.
#4 WESTMINSTER TITANS (10-7, 5-3 PAC)
Finishing third in the conference in goals scored and goals per game, the Titans are hoping to put the ball in the back of the net as much as possible when they meet Grove City again in the semifinals.
Against PAC schools not named Grove City, Westminster averaged 17.3 goals per game en route to a 5-3 conference record.
The Titans saved their best performance for Senior Recognition Day where they blew out Bethany 29-3. In the regulation season matchup against Grove City, the Wolverines got out to an 8-1 lead after the 1st, a start that the Titans just can’t afford to have happen again this time around.
