ANNVILLE, Pa. ­­– The second-seeded Lebanon Valley College men's soccer team earned a trip to the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom Final, as the program advanced championship game after an exciting 6-3 victory over third-seeded FDU-Florham in the MAC Freedom Semifinals on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at Herbert Field. 

Nathan Prex helped lead the way offensively for the Dutchmen (10-3-6), recording a hat trick. Simon Grimes also played an integral role by scoring two goals, including the game-winner. JJ Porter made an impact as well, netting a goal for LVC in the second half. The Flying Dutchmen scored four of their goals in the second stanza, which contributed to the program solidifying the win. 

Lebanon Valley took the first shot of the game, as Jack Bowman sent the ball over the upper right corner of the net 1:51 into the first half. The Devils (11-3-5) countered with a shot at the 5:13 mark. The programs followed this by going back and forth defensively for over eight minutes, until Prex put a shot on goal for the Flying Dutchmen that was saved at the 13:39 mark. FDU-Florham then opened the scoring 14:07 into the first stanza, taking a 1-0 lead on a goal by Diego Trujillo. LVC responded with a shot by Prex 16:15 into the game, which went above the net.

Lebanon Valley's defense also kept battling as the first half progressed, blocking a shot at the 19:44 mark before goalkeeper Ryan Simonette delivered a save at the 24:10 mark. The program's defense also came through with a block on an attempt by the Devils at the 25:25 mark. The Dutchmen then got on the board 29:29 into the first stanza, tying the contest at 1-1. The squad evened the score when Prex took a shot from behind the left corner of the goal box and sent the ball into the lower-right corner of the net for a goal. 

FDU-Florham countered with a shot off the crossbar and a try that went over the upper-right corner of the net, within 20 seconds in the 32nd minute. The Devils also took a shot that went above the net at the 33:25 mark, before Lebanon Valley's defense blocked a shot at the 38:35 mark, and another try by FDU-Florham went over the upper-right corner of the net at the 43:09 mark. The Flying Dutchmen found the net again 43:44 into the first, prompting the team to take a 2-1 advantage into halftime. The scoring play started when Prex put a shot on goal that was saved by a defender, and the ball was deflected back to the senior forward in the goal box. Prex then kicked the ball into the lower-right corner of the net for his second goal of the afternoon. 

The Devils scored on a goal by Christian Adame 4:09 into the second half, tying things up at 2-2. Lebanon Valley followed this with a pair of offensive opportunities, as Prex put a shot on goal that was saved at the 51:57 mark, and Gavin Rapp put an attempt on target that was saved at the 56:14 mark. FDU-Florham then found the net again 57:27 into the game, taking a 3-2 lead on a goal by Landon San Martin. The Dutchmen answered right back at the 58:54 mark, making it a 3-3 contest. The program tied it when Will Burton sent a free kick from just beyond the right side of the penalty box to the goal box, and Prex sent a header shot into the right corner of the net for his third goal of the day. 

Lebanon Valley quickly added another goal at the 60:03 mark, claiming a 4-3 advantage. Burton delivered a cross from the left side of the field to Grimes in the penalty box, who sent the ball into the lower-center portion of the net for a goal. The Flying Dutchmen also remained aggressive offensively as the stanza went on, as Prex put a shot on target that was saved at the 60:40 mark, while Burton had tries saved at the 64:34 and 65:08 marks. The Devils were then charged with a red card at the 65:18 mark, causing the program to finish the game with just 10 players on the field.

The Dutchmen added another tally 66:37 into the contest, going up 5-3. The team went ahead by two when Porter sent a shot from just behind the right side of the goal box into the lower-left side of the net for a goal. Ollie Lynch was credited with the assist on the squad's fifth goal. Back on the defensive end, Simonette later posted key stops for LVC at the 68:27, 69:31, and 70:17 marks. Lebanon Valley's defense also logged another block at the 71:03 mark, while Simonette tallied more saves at the 74:37 and 78:04 marks. 

The Flying Dutchmen tacked on an insurance point 84:33 into the game, taking a 6-3 lead. The program scored its final goal of the day when Grimes sent a shot from the center of the penalty box into the upper-center portion of the net for his second goal, courtesy of an assist by Ethan Groff. This was followed by FDU-Florham taking a shot at the 85:57 mark, which went to the left of the net. Lebanon Valley proceeded to maintain its three-goal advantage through the end of the contest and secure the big win. 

Inside the Box Score

• Prex recorded his second hat trick of the season for six points, registering game-highs in both categories. This performance brought the senior's totals to 21 goals and 48 points this year, which broke his own single-season program records. Prex logged 20 goals and 45 points in 2023, which were LVC's previous records. 
• Grimes scored a career-high two goals for his first two goals of the campaign, which included his first career game-winner. 
• Porter netted his third goal of the year. 
• Burton dished out a game-high and career-high two assists, including an assist on the game-winner by Grimes. 
• Lynch was credited with an assist on the goal by Porter. 
• Groff assisted the second goal by Grimes. 
• Simonette posted six saves. 
• Lebanon Valley recorded 21 shots and had a 13-9 advantage in shots on goal. 
• Prex also logged game-highs with nine shots and seven attempts on target. 
• Each program tallied six corner kicks. 
• Lebanon Valley has advanced to the MAC Freedom Final in two of its three seasons in the conference. The program also appeared in the conference championship game in 2023.

Up Next
Lebanon Valley will take on top-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology in the MAC Freedom Final on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 6 p.m., at the DeBaun Athletic Complex in Hoboken, N.J.

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