WASHINGTON, D.C. — Behind Gordie Bernlohr's conference-leading 14th goal of the season, the Catholic University men's soccer team downed Lycoming to hoist the Landmark Conference Championship trophy on Saturday afternoon.

In a cagey championship match that saw both teams struggle to create clear-cut chances, a moment of quality from Bernlohr proved to be the difference.

In the 54th minute, the senior was quickest to react after a Lycoming defender got in the middle of a Mudi Jagha pass intended for Ryan Kelly. The Warrior touch took it toward the top of the penalty area where Bernlohr's first touch pushed it past a defender and toward the on-rushing Nick Wilke. Bernlohr then had the composure to take another touch to the left, evading the goalkeeper and another defender's sliding challenge, leaving Bernlohr with an empty net and an easy finish.

The goal sent the Cardinals and their fans into rapture after what had been a difficult opening 45+ minutes for Catholic's attack. The Cardinals did register three shots in the opening eight minutes of the match but none of them troubled the Lycoming goalkeeper.

The clearest chance of the first half for either side came in the 27th minute when Ben Zimmer played a brilliant ball down the left flank to Kelly on a counter attack. The junior slid in a low ball aimed at Bernlohr who powered a first-time effort toward Wilke's near-post. The shot came back into play off of the upright but it did appear that Wilke got a slight touch to register a big save. Hayden Lim also went close with 90 seconds remaining when the transfer took on a strike from distance that forced Wilke into evasive action to tip it over the crossbar.

Bernlohr made no mistake with the first real chance of the second half, pushing Catholic into an all-important 1-0 lead against the most stringent defensive in the Landmark Conference this season.

After the goal, Catholic kept its foot on the gas, registering the next five shots. Azaria Tewodros provided good minutes off the bench for his side, playing with confidence in an attacking role and connecting well with Bernlohr.

It got a bit nervy for the Cardinals at the end as the Warriors earned multiple set pieces in their search for a late equalizer. The center back trio of Owen Maher, Maxim Pencak and Jahga were immense in defending the late pressure. Lycoming launched two attacking free kicks into the penalty area in the last five minutes before sending everyone forward for a final corner kick with 30 seconds remaining, but Catholic's defense held strong. 

The Cardinals defended heroically for 90 minutes en route to the championship and were especially impressive after going ahead. Catholic did not allow a single shot on target in the second half, blocking a Dylan Sloan effort in the final 10 seconds to secure the victory. Owen Allegro and the backline combined for Catholic's sixth and most important clean sheet of the season while Bernlohr's strike was his seventh game-winning goal of the campaign, pushing him into the top-five nationally in that category. 

After the match, Bernlohr was named the Landmark Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player. The senior scored the game-winning goal in both the semifinal and the final, with his pivotal semifinal strike coming with just three minutes remaining in double overtime.

The Landmark Conference Championship marks the sixth in program history, all coming under head coach Travis Beauchamp. Catholic has now won three-straight conference championship matches played on Carlini Field.

With the victory, the Cardinals earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament where Beauchamp's side will look to emulate last year's success. The Cardinals took an at-large bid in 2022 and turned it into the program's first-ever Sweet Sixteen appearance with victories over Lynchburg and nationally-ranked Christopher Newport.

Catholic will watch intently on Monday at 2 p.m. for the NCAA DIII Men's Soccer Selection Show. The program will air on NCAA.com and will reveal the Cardinals' first-round destination and opponent, as well as the entirety of the 2023 championship field.