Spalding University achieved new heights on Saturday, winning the program's first ever SLIAC Men's Soccer Championship.The Golden Eagles were making their fourth appearance in a championship game but until Saturday, had not grabbed the elusive title. This time a goal with just over two-minutes left in regulation and stellar defensive efforts in the box secured the 2024 title for the Golden Eagles. 

Spalding struck first when Mustafa Almohammedawi buried a shot from just inside the box into the bottom left corner for his 14th goal of the season. The play was set up on a free-kick from 45 yards out by Eddie Mendez-Perez, with the ball bouncing around and finding the left foot of Almohammedawi. 

The game remained that way until mid-way through the second-half. After being held to just one shot in the first 45-minutes, the Gorloks turned up the pressure in the second-half. Their efforts paid off in the 65th minute when Chase Bouschard found Noah Abraham. The Gorloks worked the ball deep into the Spalding corner when Bouschard crossed a ball into the far side of the box where Abraham one-touched the ball past the Golden Eagle keeper for the equalizer.

The Gorloks continued their pressure, out shooting the Golden Eagles 14-4 in the second-half, but the Golden Eagle defense prevented the ball from finding the back of the net. The Golden Eagles cleared the ball of the goal line multiple times and keeper Micah Mattes made all four of his saves in the game in the second-half, preventing any further Gorlok goals. 

The game was tied until late when Spalding found their championship goal. Ethan Welsh and Kevin Mulume squeezed the Gorlok midfielder during a rush, getting the ball back for the Golden Eagles. A long ball down the sideline found a streaking Ethan Eckert who played it across the box to Forte Bess. Bess maneuvered his way past the defender in the box and slipped the ball into the middle where Mendez-Perez flipped the ball inside the far right post with just 2:07 on the clock. 

The final minutes were intense as Webster managed to push the ball down the field and get two good looks, but were unable to find the tying goal. 

Spalding wins its first ever SLIAC Men's Soccer Championship becoming the sixth #4 seed to win the title in conference history. Spalding secures the league's automatic qualifier spot tot he NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship and awaits the tournament field selections on Monday.

Eddie Mendez-Perez was named the Tournament MVP and is joined on the All-Tournament team by his teammates Mustafa Almohammedawi and Oliver Frankenfeld. Also earning All-Tournament honors were Noah Abraham and Carson Lebegue from Webster University, Justin Tilford from Fontbonne University, Izan Rivera from Greenville University, Leander Linsler from Principia College, and Braedon Carier from Westminster College.