Story Courtesy of Stevens Athletics

Hoboken, N.J. – The top-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology men's soccer team clipped second-seeded Lebanon Valley College 1-0 to capture its fifth consecutive Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom Championship Saturday evening.
 
Senior defender Ethan Hagen was named the MAC Freedom Tournament Most Valuable Player after anchoring the Ducks' (9-3-6) defensive unit, while Ryan O'Byrne provided the decisive goal late in regulation.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The two sides traded early chances, with Sebastian Montoulieu denying Nathan Prex in the seventh minute and Ben Goldberg seeing his shot turned away and then deflect off the crossbar just 70 seconds later. Montoulieu added two more saves in the 15th minute before Thomas Smith was stopped off a throw-in midway through the half. Neither side generated another shot on frame, and the match remained scoreless at the break.
 
Lebanon Valley held a slim 8-5 edge in shots at halftime, with both goalkeepers making three saves apiece.
 
The Ducks came out strong in the second half, as Omar Martinez was denied just 44 seconds after the restart and Matthew Murillo saw his attempt saved in the 57th minute. Midway through the period, Emerson Kekesi had a shot blocked, while Montoulieu was called upon again in the 68th minute. After O'Byrne fired off target in the 75th, neither side registered a shot on goal for nearly eight minutes.
 
Stevens' increased pressure finally paid off with 6:29 left in regulation. Lucas Mendes gained possession along the right flank and slipped a pass to Kekesi near the center of the field. The sophomore quickly laid it off to O'Byrne, who ripped a low shot from outside the 18-yard box that eluded a diving goalkeeper, sending the Stevens bench into celebration. With the lead secured, the Ducks' defense held firm and did not allow a shot on goal the rest of the way, sealing the program's fifth straight conference crown.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Much like the regular-season meeting two weeks ago, the match was decided by a late goal.
• O'Byrne and Hagen led the team with three shots each.
• Montoulieu made four saves to record the clean sheet.
• O'Byrne, who entered the year without a career goal, has now scored three in his last six games — including in both MAC Freedom Tournament contests.
• Kekesi, who assisted on O'Byrne's tally, has tallied 13 points (six goals and one assist) over his last four matches. 

UP NEXT
With the victory, the Ducks earned the MAC Freedom's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Stevens will learn its NCAA Tournament destination during Monday's selection show, airing live on ncaa.com at 11:30 a.m.