Erie, Pa. - The Mercyhurst men's soccer team played through a driving rain and used two goals each from Billy Colton and Sean Spangler to roll over visiting Alderson-Broaddus 4-0 Saturday.

 

The Lakers improve to 3-0-1 with the win, their second shutout in a row, while the Battlers have a 2-3 mark.

 

Mercyhurst controlled play in the first half, doubling up Alderson-Broaddus in shots at 12-6. In the 15^th minute, Billy Colton converted a short cross from Marty Powell into a goal, his fourth of the season, giving the Lakers an early 1-0 edge which they would not relinquish.

 

Nearly 20 minutes later, Colton passed a short cross from the right side to Sean Spangler, who tapped a shot past keeper Neil Wright-Elliot for a 2-0 Mercyhurst lead. The goal was Spangler's first on the season, and came at 33:03.

 

In the 39^th minute, Spangler sent a cross into the box that deflected off of an A-B defender and into the net. The goal was credited to Spangler, his second on the game and second for the season, an unassisted goal at 38:54.

 

Mercyhurst took a commanding 3-0 lead into halftime, and the rain and wind picked up considerably for the balance of the match.

 

The second half saw a couple close calls for the Lakers, with the defense and Danny Mudd coming up big to preserve the shutout. A-B registered five shots in the second half, with two requiring saves from Mudd.

 

Colton added a goal off a rebound in the 89^th minute to make it 4-0 in Mercyhurst's favor. Freshman Ryan Florian took a shot from in tight that rang off the right goalpost and rebounded to Colton, who kicked it in for his second goal on the afternoon and fifth for the season.

 

The match ended with Mercyhurst victorious, 4-0.

 

Mudd made seven saves for the shutout, his third on the season and 17^th for his career.

 

The Lakers are back in action Tuesday in their conference home opener, hosting Slippery Rock at 4:00 p.m.