DUBUQUE, Iowa - For the first time in school history, the Spartan men's lacrosse team has earned a trip to the NCAA Division III men's lacrosse championships after an 11-10 overtime victory past the Lake Forest College Foresters in the Midwest Lacrosse Conference (MLC) tournament championship game. On a beautiful afternoon at Oyen Field, both fan bases were treated to an intense game which ended with the first ever MLC tournament game to go to overtime in the league's history dating back to 2011. The Spartans are also the first team from the state of Iowa to make the NCAA Division III men's lacrosse championships. 

The first minutes of the first quarter were quiet until Lake Forest got on the board with a goal at the 8:34 mark of the first. Lake Forest would again respond with two more goals in the next three minutes to open up their lead to 3-0. The three goal deficit would be the biggest deficit the Spartans have faced all year in conference play. The Spartans would not falter as they would score three goals in the final four minutes of the first to even the score at 3-3. The Spartans would see their first lead of the game at 13:20 left in the second off a Ben Farraday goal. Lake Forest would answer to even the game halfway through the second, but a Kyle Hephner goal with :34 left to take a 5-4 lead at the half. 

The Spartans would come out of the half with two quick goals in the first 1:30 of the third to extend their lead to 7-4. Lake Forest would not let the Spartan lead slip away as they would rally to score three unanswered to tie the score again at 7-7. Yet again, the Spartans made a run of their own and regained the three goal lead 10-7 heading into the final quarter. Lake Forest was looking to make one final run as they would trim the Spartans lead to 10-9 with 2:46 left in the game. Lake Forest would have one final opportunity to force the game to OT and would do just that with a mere :06 seconds left on the clock. As the Spartans let their lead slip away late, they needed to regroup and focus on the overtime period. 

In the first overtime game of the season for the Spartans, it would come down to four minutes of sudden death for a berth in the 2022 NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championships. Both teams had a chance, but Gavin Hughes would have the ball as the shot clock was about to expire found Sam Todd streaking towards the goal and would find the back of the net to send the Spartans to their first ever NCAA tournament appearance. 

Gavin Hughes led the Spartans with six points off one goal and five assists. Aidan Culligan, Giovanni Silva, and Zach Schmitt each added two goals. Ryan Doyle collected nine ground balls in the victory. Ryan Gartner had 11 saves to collect the win in goal for the Spartans. 

The 2022 Division III men's lacrosse selection show will air Sunday, May 8, at 9 p.m. ET. The tournament field will be announced on a web stream that airs on NCAA.com.

Here's how to watch the 2022 DIII men's lacrosse selection show.

When: Sunday, May 8 at 9 p.m. ET

Where: NCAA.com

The national championship will be held Sunday, May 29 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut.