Box Score

California, Pa. – Mercyhurst posted a hard-fought, 3-2 come-from-behind victory Wednesday, Oct. 14 at California (Pa.), striking twice in the last 12 minutes of play Trailing 2-0 early on, the Lakers received a first-half goal from Paul Neill, Dean Atkins' equalizer in the 78th minute and a Billy Colton penalty kick goal to provide the winning margin at 83:54.

With the win, the Lakers are now 11-3, 5-1 in PSAC West play, and tied for first with Slippery Rock in the divisional standings. The Vulcans fall to 10-4, 2-4 in divisional games.

The Lakers, behind 2-1 after 45 minutes, continued their strong play in the second half, controlling possession while generating build up, leading to frequent scoring chances. The teams played physically throughout, battling for control of the match. Mercyhurst continued to probe the Vulcans' back line, yielding shots for attacking players.

In the 78th minute, Mercyhurst provided the equalizer, as the ball got played in to Billy Colton near the top of the box. With the Cal defense focused on Colton, the junior forward turned and found Dean Atkins wide on the right side. Atkins fired a low shot that tucked inside the far post just ahead of a Cal defender. The goal, Atkins' fourth of the season, tilted the momentum squarely to the Lakers.

A strong individual effort by Paul Neill provided Mercyhurst with a penalty kick in the 84th minute. Neill dribbled through a defender, fell and got back up before touching the ball around Cal keeper Derek Yobbi, who dragged Neill down. Colton blasted in the ensuing penalty kick for a 3-2 Mercyhurst advantage.

Laker keeper Diego Gustin made several key stops during the second half, giving Mercyhurst a chance to complete the comeback. In the 88th minute, a Cal goal was nullified by a foul on the Vulcans. The Lakers used end-of-game tactics to run out the clock for a 3-2 victory.

For the game, the Lakers outshot the Vulcans 21-13, while Cal U held an 8-6 edge in shots on target. Each team attempted two corner kicks, while Cal U recorded 23 fouls to Mercyhurst's 12.

Cal (Pa.) scored twice during the first 5:57 of play, as Mike Luecke notched a goal on the first shot of the game, beating Gustin with a low shot from 18 yards out at 4:50. Less than one minute later, Cal U took a 2-0 lead as Nick Helbig scored on a penalty kick which resulted from a Mercyhurst handball in the box.

Mercyhurst responded to the early adversity with renewed focus and determination, winning challenges and earning shots on goal. In the 16th minute, Colton played the ball to Arash Fahandezh near the endline. Fahandezh drove a cross which Neill guided into the net for his sixth goal of 2009, slicing the margin to 2-1. The Lakers continued to press for the equalizer while keeping the Vulcans at bay.

Gustin made six saves in the victory, including several key stops during the second half. He holds a 10-3 record, the first Laker goalie with 10 wins in a season since Danny Mudd went 16-4 in 2006. Yobbi stopped three shots in the loss.

Colton scored his eighth goal of the season, including his fourth in the last three games. His penalty kick goal was his second PK strike this year, and seventh out of eight career penalty kick attempts.

Fahandezh has now registered a team-leading five assists on the season.

Four Lakers have scored at least four goals this season, the first time that four Mercyhurst players have notched four or more goals since 2006.

The Lakers' next two games will be contested in Ohio, beginning with a match Sunday, Oct. 18 at former GLIAC rival Findlay. Mercyhurst downed the Oilers 4-2 during their last meeting, Oct. 18, 2008.