Grand Rapids, Mich. - For the second time in two weeks, the Aquinas and Indiana Tech men's soccer teams battled for conference supremacy. On Oct. 28 in Fort Wayne, Ind., the Saints upended the Warriors on their home field by a 3-0 score to clinch the regular season WHAC Championship. In Saturday's (Nov. 11) rematch, Indiana Tech took a 2-0 lead and held on for dear life in the closing 20 minutes. The final score of the heated, competitive title contest read Indiana Tech 2, Aquinas 1.

Top-seeded Aquinas (14-3-3) and second-seeded Indiana Tech (11-4-5) were on a mission to meet in the conference championship. AQ defeated both its WHAC Tournament opponents by identical 4-1 scores; IT won its two tournament games by identical 3-0 finals.

The Warriors were able to accomplish what Aquinas did two weeks ago - winning on their rivals' home field. Indiana Tech scored once in each half, enjoyed a brief 2-0 lead, and staved off a late AQ push to win the tournament championship.

In what ended up being a nail-biting, exciting, and wild contest, the teams combined for 30 fouls (19 on Indiana Tech) and five yellow cards were assessed to each team. 

The two teams felt each other out in the opening 45 minutes; there were just five shots, with Indiana Tech taking four of the five. One of those four found the back of the net, as Lucca Motta netted his sixth goal of the season less than 10 minutes into the contest. For the remaining 35 minutes of the half, the teams held steady and few offensive opportunities presented themselves.

After just five shots in the first half, the teams combined for 20 attempts over the final 45 minutes. The Warriors used a solid goal at the 65:37 mark, when Warren Moss played a great ball into the box for Andreas Michael, who slipped one past Saints goalkeeper Antonio Strassioto for his second tally of the year. The 2-0 lead put the Warriors fully in command.

10 minutes before the IT goal, Aquinas had a pair of strong scoring opportunities on shots from Jasper Schnikel and Yussef Hakmaoui, but neither attempt materialized. In the 70th minute, the Saints finally broke through.

At the 69:55 mark, WHAC Offensive Player of the Year Ricardo Rittersberger was pulled down in the box and drew a foul on a Warrior player. Three yellow cards were eventually assessed to Indiana Tech on the play and in the ensuing extracurricular activities. Rittersberger was awarded a penalty kick and on his attempt, Tech goalie David Martinez made a shocking, sprawling save. Only it was for naught, as Martinez was ruled to have left his line early and advance towards Rittersberger before the kick. So Rittersberger had a second chance.

He would not miss a second time, as the junior powered one into the lower left side of the net past Martinez for his league-leading 21st goal of the year. With 20 minutes left of play, Aquinas was within a goal.

The Saints put together several good opportunities in the next few minutes, with Jasper Schinkel registering four attempts in the next five minutes. Martinez made at least one terrific save during that stretch, preserving the one-goal lead.

During that time, AQ also came up with a huge defensive stand to keep it as a 2-1 game. The Warriors were able to get past Strassioto and a few members of the Saints backline, as Michael blasted a shot at the goal from inside the box. Luckily, stellar AQ defender Joe Lockey was in a perfect position and took the ball directly to his chest and knocked it away to keep it as a one-goal contest. 

Over the final 10 minutes, there were as many yellow cards (two) as shots (two), with neither Aquinas shot attempt having much of a chance at equaling the score at 2-2. Indiana Tech prevailed in a hard-fought 2-1 final.

AQ took 12 of its 13 shot attempts in the second half, outshooting the Warriors in the game, 13-12. Each team made three saves. Aquinas held a slight 4-2 edge in corner kicks. The teams combined for 16 fouls and six yellow cards in just the second half alone.

Seven of the Saints' 13 shots came from the foot of Schinkel, with no other Aquinas player tallying more than one shot. 

The Saints will be making their first NAIA National Tournament appearance since 2012. AQ will learn of its postseason assignment, opponent, and location in an NAIA selection show announcement on Monday afternoon.