GROVE CITY, Pa. -- The Grove City College men's lacrosse team captured its third straight Presidents' Athletic Conference title Saturday night by earning a 17-4 victory over visiting Saint Vincent (13-2) in the conference tournament title game, hosted by Grove City at Robert E. Thorn Field.

Grove City also earns an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament by winning the conference title. The 38-team NCAA Tournament field will be announced Sunday at 9 p.m. EDT.

Top-seeded Grove City (15-4) led 4-2 midway through the first quarter before breaking open the game. Junior attack James Petrolle (Damascus, Md./Damascus) sparked a 5-0 run by scoring with 2:51 left in the opening period. Freshman midfielder Zachary Hougan (Springboro, Ohio/Springboro) assisted the goal.

Senior attack Michael La Forte (Waterford, Conn./Waterford) scored twice in the second quarter while Petrolle and senior midfielder Brett Gladstone (Marriottsville, Md./Marriotts Ridge) also scored during the period as Grove City led 9-2 at halftime.

The Wolverines then led 13-3 after three quarters as freshman attack Matt Blythe (Mendon, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima) scored twice in the quarter while Petrolle and freshman midfielder Alec Jones (Chesterfield, N.J./Notre Dame) added goals.

Petrolle paced Grove City with a season-high five goals while Blythe and La Forte both fired in three goals. Senior faceoff specialist Grant Evans (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper Saint Clair), senior defender Josh Snell (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks), sophomore midfielder Griffen Agawa (San Ramon, Calif./California) and Hougan also scored. 

Hougan, La Forte and senior midfielder Jed Speers (Medina, Ohio/Medina) all recorded two assists. Gladstone, Petrolle and junior defender Brock Simmons (Akron, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian) each assisted one goal. 

Evans won 19 of 21 faceoff and finished with a game-high 15 ground balls. Gladstone recorded six ground balls. Freshman defender Zach Furry (Springboro, Ohio/Springboro) and freshman midfielder Trey Zabroski (Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood) each caused two turnovers. 

Saint Vincent finished with 23 turnovers while Grove City had 17 turnovers. Grove City held a 50-31 edge in total shots and a 29-15 advantage in shots on goal.

Junior goalie Danny Stone (Chantilly, Va./Flint Hill) made 10 saves in 45 minutes, earning his ninth straight win. Senior R.J. Miller (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) stopped one shot in the fourth quarter. 

Evans earned the tournament's Most Outstanding Player award. Gladstone, La Forte, Petrolle and Stone earned All-Tournament Team recognition.

Winners of 13 straight games, Grove City will make its third all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Grove City won league titles in 2019 and 2021.