PAINESVILLE, Ohio – The Lake Erie College men's soccer team will host the 2026 Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Men's Soccer Championship semifinals and final at Campus Field in Painesville, Ohio. After securing the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament, the Storm will look to carry their regular-season success into postseason play as they compete for the G-MAC Championship.

The Storm finished the regular season with an 11-4-3 overall record and a 10-2-2 mark in conference play, earning the top seed and a first-round bye. Lake Erie will face No. 5 seed Kentucky Wesleyan in the semifinals on Thursday, November 5, at 7:00 p.m. The first semifinal will feature No. 2 Tiffin against No. 6 Findlay at 4:00 p.m.

The championship match is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, at 4:00 p.m., with all three remaining games taking place at Lake Erie's Campus Field.

Storm Enter Postseason with Momentum

Lake Erie enters the conference tournament riding a strong regular-season finish, winning seven straight matches, including back-to-back 4-0 victories over Northwood and Tiffin to close out conference play.

The Storm's regular-season finale against Tiffin on October 27 was particularly significant, as Lake Erie defeated the defending G-MAC champions in commanding fashion to secure the top seed in the tournament.

Throughout the season, Lake Erie has shown strength on both ends of the field, scoring 36 goals while allowing just 15 across 18 matches. The Storm averaged 2.00 goals per game while holding opponents to just 0.83 goals per contest, recording nine shutouts along the way.

Offensively, several key contributors have led the Storm. Cal Babiash leads the team with six goals, while Nicolas Vagujhelyi has recorded five goals and five assists for a team-high 15 points. Veljko Radovanovic follows closely with four goals and six assists for 14 points, while Alex Banjac has added five goals and one assist.

William Hjelte and Fabio Juricko have also played important roles in the attack, each contributing four goals and two assists.

Defensively, goalkeeper Patrick Bassett has anchored the Storm throughout the season, posting a 10-2-2 record with a 0.72 goals-against average. Bassett has contributed to nine shutouts, including eight individual shutouts, and recorded 28 saves across 14 appearances.

The Storm have also been particularly successful at home, compiling a 6-1-1 record at Campus Field during the regular season.

Semifinal Matchup: No. 1 Lake Erie vs. No. 5 Kentucky Wesleyan

Lake Erie will open its postseason campaign against Kentucky Wesleyan, which advanced to the semifinals following a 2-1 upset victory over No. 4 Cedarville in the quarterfinals on October 31.
The Panthers enter the matchup with a 9-4-4 overall record after finishing conference play at 7-3-4.

The two teams previously met on September 10 in Owensboro, Kentucky, where Lake Erie earned a decisive 4-1 victory.

Kentucky Wesleyan has scored 32 goals this season, averaging 1.88 per game, while allowing 22. The Panthers' offensive attack is led by Mattie McNally, who has scored a team-high seven goals, followed by Carter Ford with six goals and four assists.

Jersey Lopez has been a key playmaker for the Panthers, recording 14 assists and three goals for a team-high 20 points.

In goal, Matteo Graniero has made 50 saves, posted a 1.27 goals-against average, and contributed to five shutouts.

The semifinal matchup will feature two of the conference's productive offenses, with both teams averaging nearly two goals per contest. Lake Erie will look to build on its earlier victory over Kentucky Wesleyan while using its home-field advantage to secure a spot in Saturday's championship match.

Semifinal Matchup: No. 2 Tiffin vs. No. 6 Findlay

The opening semifinal will feature defending G-MAC champion Tiffin against Findlay at 4:00 p.m.

Tiffin enters the tournament with a 9-3-6 overall record and an 8-2-4 conference mark. The Dragons earned the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye after another strong conference campaign.

The Dragons have scored 27 goals while allowing 17, averaging 1.50 goals per match. Garbhan Feeney leads Tiffin with five goals and seven assists for 17 points, while Zach Garcia has contributed five goals and three assists.

Defensively, goalkeeper Nick Cherry has been a key contributor, posting a 0.90 goals-against average, 51 saves and nine shutouts during the regular season.

Findlay advanced to the semifinals after defeating No. 3 Thomas More 3-2 in the quarterfinals. The Oilers enter Thursday's matchup with an 11-5-2 overall record and a 7-5-2 conference record.
Findlay's offense has produced 32 goals this season, led by Carson Oberski with eight goals and five assists for 21 points. Tom Middleham has added six goals and five assists, while Leo Egerer has contributed three goals and six assists.

Goalkeeper Ethan Hensley has recorded 59 saves and a 1.12 goals-against average in 18 appearances.

The two teams met twice during the regular season, playing to a 1-1 draw on September 17 before Tiffin claimed a 2-1 victory on October 24.

With the defending champions facing a Findlay team coming off a quarterfinal victory, the opening semifinal will determine which squad advances to Saturday's championship match.

Championship Schedule

Thursday, November 5 – Semifinals

• 4:00 p.m. – No. 2 Tiffin vs. No. 6 Findlay
• 7:00 p.m. – No. 1 Lake Erie vs. No. 5 Kentucky Wesleyan

Saturday, November 7 – Championship

• 4:00 p.m. – Semifinal Winners

All matches will be played at Campus Field in Painesville, Ohio.

Ticket Information

Tickets for the 2026 G-MAC Men's Soccer Championship are available at the following prices:

• Adults: $15
• Students, seniors, and military personnel: $10
• G-MAC students with valid student ID: Free
• Children ages five and under: Free

Cash will not be accepted for on-site ticket purchases.

Spectator seating will be on the west side of Campus Field, and fans are encouraged to bring portable chairs due to limited bleacher seating.

Fans unable to attend can follow the action through live video and live statistics available on the official G-MAC Championship website.

With home-field advantage and the top seed secured, the Storm will look to continue their impressive season and capture the conference championship in front of their home crowd.