ALBION, Mich. -- The Albion College men’s lacrosse team defied expectations and stormed its way to the top of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), capturing the program’s sixth tournament title with a dominant 11-5 victory over top-seeded Trine University in the championship game. Entering the tournament as the No. 3 seed, the Britons showcased grit, balance, and star power en route to earning the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The Britons now boast a 12-8 overall record following their three-game run through the MIAA Tournament. They opened with an 11-8 win over Kalamazoo in the quarterfinals before surviving a thrilling 12-11 semifinal against Adrian College. Their championship performance against the Thunder capped a resilient postseason campaign.

Albion’s offensive firepower was led by senior attacker Brendan Mercier, who netted eight goals across the three-game tournament. Senior midfielder Keegan Pastor followed closely with seven goals, while junior midfielder Cal Stearns added six. Senior midfielder Fabrizio Raciti tallied four assists.

Albion’s defensive prowess was equally pivotal. Carter Kildea anchored the back line with an impressive 10 caused turnovers across the tournament. Connor Laidlaw controlled the faceoff X, winning 34 draws and scooping up 23 ground balls, keeping momentum in Albion’s favor.

With the MIAA Tournament title secured, Albion now turns its attention to the NCAA Tournament, eager to carry its momentum onto the national stage.