The Allegheny Badgers are MID-AM champions after surviving a back-and-forth 5–4 battle against Pittsburgh Vengeance #1 in a game that never lacked intensity.

Allegheny jumped out early, striking three times in a two-minute stretch in the first period. Andrew Bryant opened the scoring before Jacob Fink and Mason Hohman followed to build a 3–0 lead midway through the frame. The quick burst gave the Badgers early control, but the momentum would not last long.

Vengeance answered before the first intermission, getting goals from Kevin Sabie and Michael Cummings to cut the deficit to one. Sabie struck again in the second period to even the game at 3–3, completing the rally and setting up a tense third period.

Despite being heavily outshot — Vengeance finished with a 55–25 edge in shots on goal — the Badgers found their answer midway through the third. Bryant scored his second of the game at 12:50 to regain the lead, and at 9:23 Brody Boban buried the eventual game-winner, assisted by Fink and Ryan Guenther, to make it 5–3.

Vengeance refused to go quietly. Brayden Wilhelm pulled one back with just over six minutes remaining, and the pressure continued until the final horn. In net, Tyler Funk turned aside 51 of 55 shots to secure the championship victory for Allegheny.

Physical play and heart defined the matchup from start to finish, with both teams trading momentum swings throughout the night.

With the 5–4 win, the Badgers claim the MID-AM title and now turn their focus to Nationals.

Photos by: Kyler Cecil & Liam Christenson