Pfeiffer Claims Fourth Straight USA South Men's Lacrosse Tournament Title
MISENHEIMER, N.C. (May 2, 2026) – Pfeiffer University continued its dominance of the USA South Conference, rolling to a 23–7 victory over Southern Virginia in the championship game Sunday at Lefko-Mills Field to secure its fourth consecutive USA South Men's Lacrosse Tournament title.
Witht he win, Pfeiffer has won 35 straight games against USA South competition dating back to the 2023 season.
The Falcons (15-2) wasted little time asserting control, scoring six goals in the opening quarter and never looking back. Pfeiffer built a 14–2 halftime advantage before cruising through the second half behind a balanced offensive attack and stifling defense.
Tiger Hopkins led the way with a championship performance, pouring in eight goals and two assists while scoring in every quarter.
Dylan Sullivan added five goals and an assist, and
Bashwyn Fitch chipped in three goals as Pfeiffer showcased its depth with eight different goal-scorers on the afternoon.
Davis Palombo finished with two goals and three assists, while
Ethan Miles contributed a goal and three assists.
Pfeiffer's offense was relentless, outshooting Southern Virginia 68–33 and winning the faceoff battle 24–8, which fueled consistent possession throughout the contest. The Falcons were also efficient on man-up opportunities, converting three power-play goals, and controlled the ground ball battle 63–47.
The Knights (9–10) briefly tied the game at 1–1 early in the first quarter, but Pfeiffer responded with five unanswered goals to close the period. Hopkins scored twice in the final minute of the opening quarter to spark the run, setting the tone for what followed.
Southern Virginia was paced by Clay Haacke and Myles Nielson, who scored two goals each, while Davis Grant, Scott DuPaix, and Lincoln Timothy added single tallies. Goalie Jace Lightfoot recorded 16 saves in a busy afternoon for the Knights as Pfeiffer consistently pressured the cage.
Defensively, Pfeiffer limited Southern Virginia's extra-man chances and forced frequent turnovers, allowing the Knights just three total goals through the first three quarters. The Falcons led 20–3 after three periods before a four-goal fourth quarter by Southern Virginia closed out the scoring.
In goal,
Korbin Hamilton earned the win for Pfeiffer, stopping 10 shots while allowing just three goals in his time between the pipes, as the Falcons rotated goalkeepers late with the outcome well in hand.
With the victory, Pfeiffer continues its reign atop the USA South, capturing back-to-back-to-back-to-back tournament championships and earning the conference's automatic bid while further cementing its status as one of Division III's most consistent programs.
