Lenoir-Rhyne, Mercyhurst to Meet for Division II Men's NCAA Championship

Mercyhurst put an end to three things on Sunday in the Division II men’s NCAA semifinals.

The Lakers ended a five-game losing streak against Le Moyne, picking up their first-ever win over the Dolphins. They ended Le Moyne’s run as a thorn in the side of Division II programs, as it’ll move up to Division I next season. Most importantly, though, the Lakers ended Le Moyne’s season.

Undefeated entering the contest, Le Moyne couldn’t hold down Mercyhurst in the final 5:33. Every time the Dolphins punched, the Lakers punched back. Sam Lambert gave Le Moyne the lead with 5:33 to go, but Nicholas Mabe tied it 58 seconds later and Jeremi Phoenix-Lefebvre netted the go-ahead goal with 1:55 remaining.

The Lakers are moving on to face Lenoir-Rhyne in the Division II men’s national championship game.

Mercyhurst (16-2) rode its balance to a win. While Le Moyne enjoyed hat tricks from Joey Pezzimenti and Kevin Sheehan, Mercyhurst utilized nine goals scorers. Only two of them — Phoenix-Lefebvre and Quinn Simonson — scored multiple goals (two apiece).

 Down 6-5 at halftime, Mercyhurst deposited the first two goals of the third quarter, one each by Kevin Sprague and Stephen Morley. Sheehan tied it and Isaac Frechette put Le Moyne ahead 7-6 with 13:46 to play.

That triggered a punch-for-punch next eight minutes, Mabe’s 16th goal of the season tying the score at 10 with 4:35 left. After Phoenix-Lefebvre’s go-ahead goal, Le Moyne had chances to tie it again.

Lambert’s shot was blocked with 39 seconds left, then after Mercyhurst failed to clear, Justin Chenaille found the ball on the ground and Le Moyne took a timeout. Charlie Gleason sealed the win for Mercyhurst out of the timeout by causing a turnover.

The Division II men’s national championship game will be played Sunday, May 28, at 1 p.m. Eastern.

LENOIR-RHYNE CONTINUES RUN

Fifth-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne has beaten the South Region’s fourth, first and second seeds — in that order — to advance to the national title game. The Bears’ latest victim was Limestone, and it was never particularly close. The Bears led by six at halftime and eight a few minutes into the third quarter of an 18-11 win.

Lenoir-Rhyne is the first No. 5 seed in the Division II men’s tournament to make it to the national championship game.

3 road games 3 road wins

The first five seed ever to make it to the national championship! Next stop, iledelphia! pic.twitter.com/IC59suy8PT

— #GOBEARS (@LRbears) May 21, 2023

Kyle Hatcher had four goals and two assists, Myles Moffat and Toron Eccleston each had three goals and two assists and Evan Voss had four goals and one assist. Rob Pensabene made 12 saves.

They helped the Bears get revenge on Limestone, which beat LRU 14-8 on May 1 in the SAC championship game.