LOVES PARK, Ill. – With a late goal, St. Thomas pulled defeated Dayton, 9-8, to win the Upper Midwest Lacrosse Conference (UMLC) Division II championship for the second-straight season.

With the victory, St. Thomas (11-2) earns an automatic qualifying berth to the 2023 MCLA National Championships presented by New Balance, which will take place from May 8-13 at the Round Rock (Texas) Multipurpose Complex. Tickets and live streaming for nationals can be purchased HERE.

Thanks to the effort of Cam Gelling, who scored the first four goals of the game for the Tommies, St. Thomas amassed a 6-3 lead at the half. Dayton (9-5) rallied to tie the game at sixes early in the fourth quarter.

With the game still tied at eight late in the fourth quarter, Garret Hoch completed his hat trick for the 9-8 lead and the eventual victory.

This will be the 15th consecutive appearance at nationals for the Tommies, who have an MCLA-best six national championships. Dayton will await its fate as a possible at-large selection later this evening.

2023 Upper Midwest Lacrosse Conference (UMLC) Tournament
Loves Park, Ill. – April 28-30 – Mercyhealth Sportscore Complex

Division II

First Round – April 28
#3E Dayton d. #2W Minn.-Duluth, 11-7
#2E North Dakota State d, #3W St. John’s, 13-8

Semifinals – April 29
#3E Dayton d. #1E Grand Valley State, 9-8
#1W St. Thomas d. #2E North Dakota State, 15-10

Finals – April 30
#1W St. Thomas d. #3E Dayton, 9-8