Erie, Pa. – The Mercyhurst men's soccer team struck for three goals in a 13-minute span near the end of the first half, and added one marker in the second half for a 4-0 victory over PSAC West opponent Cal (Pa.) Friday, Sept. 11. Billy Colton notched two tallies in his return, while Nicholas Thompson scored a goal for the fifth consecutive game and Dean Atkins recorded an insurance goal for the Lakers, who won their fifth straight match.

Mercyhurst improves to 5-1 with the win, including a 2-0 mark in divisional play, while the Vulcans dropped their third straight PSAC West match, falling to 3-3 overall and 0-3 in the Western Division.

The Lakers opened the match on the offensive, generating the match's first four shots. Mercyhurst's defense marked up Cal's top striker, Mike Luecke, allowing him little space with which to operate and turning aside any through-balls. The momentum tilted in Mercyhurst's favor during the final 20 minutes of the first session, as the Lakers won battles in the midfield and generated quality scoring chances for the remainder of the half. 

In the 28th minute, Tommy Lund played a long diagonal ball into the box. Colton shielded his defender, and Thompson shot the ball low to the far post for a 1-0 Laker lead. The goal was Thompson's fifth on the season. 

Less than three minutes later, Colton played a quick touch back to Paul Neill, who flicked a pass through for Colton's finish from 10 yards out at 30:28. The goal was Colton's second of 2009.

Following a deft pass from Ole Brandmeyer, Thompson found Colton with a short pass across the top of the box during the 41st minute. Colton struck a firm ball which evaded the Cal keeper for a 3-0 Mercyhurst advantage at 40:20. The Lakers took the commanding lead into halftime.

In the first half, the Lakers outshot the Vulcans 14-5, and converted on three of five shots on target.

The physical play, evident in the first half, carried over into the second 45 minutes. The Lakers maintained control throughout the second half, allowing limited looks at net. In the 87th minute, Stephen Duggan played a high ball that Rafael Silva settled near the endline. Silva then drove a cross which Dean Atkins converted for Mercyhurst's fourth goal of the afternoon. When the clock expired, the Lakers had their second conference victory, 4-0.

Diego Gustin made five stops for his first clean sheet. The Lakers have posted three shutouts in six matches so far this season. Derek Yobbi made two saves in the loss, while Charlie Dagnal stopped one shot. 

The Lakers' five-game winning streak is the longest for the program since an eight-game skein during the 2006 season (Sept. 3 through Sept. 23).

Thompson recorded one goal and one assist, his second three-point game of the season. Thompson continued his goal-scoring streak, which stands at five games, the most since a six-game stretch by Kurt Young from Sept. 3 through Sept. 17, 2006.

Colton scored two goals in his first game action since the Urbana game Aug. 30. He helped ignite the Lakers'attack after entering late in the first half. He recorded his 10th career multiple goal game, and his four points moved him into eighth place all-time in program history.

The Lakers conclude their six-game homestand Thursday, Sept. 17, as they host the Univ. of the District of Columbia at 4 p.m. The Firebirds were the first opponent against whom Head Coach Keith Cammidge coached at home for Mercyhurst in 2002, his first season at the helm. Additionally, they were the Lakers' first NCAA tournament opponent under Coach Cammidge, as Mercyhurst downed D.C. 6-0 Nov. 17, 2002.