Erie, Pa. – The Mercyhurst men's soccer team staved off a late charge by No. 20 Millersville, holding on for a 2-1 victory Sunday. The Lakers received goals from Billy Colton and Nicholas Thompson, while Ryan Kiley scored for the Marauders.

 

With time winding down to under a minute left in the match, Mercyhurst keeper Danny Mudd came up with a critical save of a point-blank shot taken by Kiley to preserve the one-goal lead and the win for Mercyhurst, who improves to 4-1-1 with the win. The loss was Millersville's (6-1) first on the season.

 

Billy Colton opened the scoring in the first half for the Lakers, as he took a long pass from Arash Fahandezh down the left side, pulled up just outside the 18-yard box and rifled a shot that glanced off of the crossbar and the goalkeeper before landing over the goal line. The goal, Colton's sixth on the season, came at the 27:01 mark.

 

Millersville dominated the overall shot totals in the first half at 14-6, but only had one more shot on goal than Mercyhurst in the opening frame.

 

The Lakers held a one-goal lead in the 80^th minute when Nicholas Thompson took a pass from Michael De Rose, spun around a defender and found the back of the net with a shot that eluded keeper Matt Langione. The goal was Thompson's second of the campaign, and gave the Lakers a 2-0 lead.

 

The Marauders raised their intensity level in the last 10 minutes in an attempt to tie the match. Sean McLaughlin took a quick corner kick in the 83^rd minute, and the ensuing scramble resulted in a goal, with Stephen Melnick making a quick pass to Ryan Kiley, who deflected the ball past Mudd at 82:40.

 

The Lakers held off the Marauders in the closing minutes for the 2-1 win.

 

Mudd made six saves on the afternoon, as only seven of Millersville's 27 shots were on frame.

 

Mercyhurst is back in action Wednesday, hosting cross town rival Gannon at 4:00 p.m. in their inaugural meeting as PSAC West opponents.