LEXINGTON, Ky. – The top-seeded Transylvania Pioneers defeated the second-seeded Hanover Panthers on Sunday to claim the 2026 Heartland Collegiate Men's Lacrosse Conference Championship title. The game was a rematch of the 2025 championship, and the win gives Transylvania back-to-back HCLC titles.

2026 HCLC Men's Lacrosse Championship Page 

Transylvania took the lead less than two minutes into the contest and never looked back, finishing the game with a commanding final score of 23–0.

Offensively, the Pioneers were led by two players who each scored five goals. Charlie Horner (Louisville, KY) struck early, netting his first three goals within the opening quarter and finishing with five goals on eight shots. Andrew Welch (Louisville, KY), HCLC Offensive Player of the Year, (Louisville, KY) also tallied 5 goals on 14 shots while Huck Campbell (Louisville, KY) talso tallied three goals for the Pioneers.

Between the pipes, goalie Nick DeGrandi (Louisville, KY) played 30 minutes behind a stingy Pios defense, limiting the Panthers no goals while recording three saves. Overall, Hanover managed just 19 shots on the day.

With the HCLC Championship secured, Transylvania finishes the season with an 12–4 record and now awaits the announcement of its first-round NCAA opponent, which will be revealed during the NCAA Division III Men’s Lacrosse Selection Show on Sunday, May 3 at 9 p.m.

For more information on HCLC men's lacrosse, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the HCAC's home on the internet at www.heartlandconf.org. Be sure to stay up to date on all of your Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference news by following @HCACDIII on Twitter and by liking the "HCAC DIII" Facebook page.