Rochester, Mich. - The Golden Grizzlies stand just one game away from the coveted Horizon League Championship title, as they face off against Green Bay in the final Conference match of the season.

Oakland punched their ticket to the championship game with a steady win over Purdue Fort Wayne, propelled by an Owen Smith goal and their rock steady defense.

Oakland will face a high-powered offensive team in Green Bay, a team that's skill Oakland is very familiar with. The Phoenix slid by IUPUI in their semifinal match, notching a 2-1 victory over the Jags in the night-cap game on Thursday.

Oakland is 10-2 all-time against the Phoenix, but were stung by Green Bay's potent scoring ability in their last matchup on Oct. 28 earlier this season, as Green Bay prematurely delayed Oakland's chance to clinch the number one seed. In the match, Oakland went up 1-0 in the first half, thanks to a Mikey Ketteman penalty kick. After that goal from Oakland, Green Bay scored three unanswered goals in the second half to win the game 3-1.

It will be a battle of the stars as both teams boast three All-League First Team members each, most notably Oakland's Mikey Ketteman, who also received Offensive Player of the Year, and Green Bay's Tobias Jahn who won Goalkeeper of the Year. Both teams are also riding hot streaks into the game. Oakland, taking home the number one seed and the regular season title, has held opponents to shutouts in four of their last six games, using their defense to keep them afloat and always be in a position to win. Green Bay hasn't lost since falling to Wright State 0-2 on Sept. 30. Over this span, the Phoenix have used the Horizon League's highest scoring offense to outscore their opponents 16-8 over an eight-game span.

Although defense has been a catalyst for Oakland's success, Oakland's attack is a two-headed monster. The Golden Grizzlies have stifled their opponents while scoring at a top-five pace in the conference behind three of the top ten goal scorers in the conference in Mikey Ketteman (8), Owen Smith (7), and Donavan Phillip (5).

With a win, Oakland will secure an automatic spot in the NCAA Division I Tournament and win their second Horizon League title in three years, having won the title in 2021.

In a battle of opposing styles and strengths, Oakland will look to exact revenge on their late-season loss, but also know that in postseason play, the only game that matters is the one at hand.

Catch the Horizon League season Finale at the Oakland Soccer Field on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 1 p.m.

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