Erie, Pa. – The Mercyhurst men's soccer team will host cross town rival Gannon Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 4 p.m. The Lakers are listed among others receiving votes in the latest adidas/NSCAA Division II national poll, released Tuesday.

Mercyhurst went 1-1 last week, falling 2-1 at No. 12 Slippery Rock Tuesday, Sept. 22 before responding with a 2-1 victory at home Saturday, Sept. 26. Nicholas Thompson scored two goals during a 40-second span late in the first half to provide the winning margin.

Millersville, ranked fifth nationally, leads the Atlantic Region teams. Slippery Rock (8-1) holds the No. 12 spot, while Charleston is 21st. Mercyhurst is fourth in the Atlantic Region.

The Lakers (7-2, 2-1 PSAC West) have gone a perfect 7-0 at home this season, having outscored opponents 21-3 at Mercyhurst Soccer Field. This early stretch marks the sixth time in school history that the team has won its first seven home contests, with the last occasion being in 2004. Mercyhurst also holds a 12-game home winning streak dating back to Sept. 21, 2008, one shy of a program record.

Thompson leads the Lakers and the PSAC with eight goals and 18 points. He is one of four Mercyhurst players to record a multiple-goal game this season, with Christoph Hampel, Paul Neill and Billy Colton also striking twice in one game. This marks the first time since 2006 that four Lakers registered multiple-goal games in the same season.

Colton (four goals) and Neill (three goals, two assists) have each scored eight points, while Hampel has recorded seven points on three goals and an assist. The Laker defense holds teams to an average on 0.66 goals per 90 minutes, having shut out four opponents thus far. Diego Gustin sports a 0.81 goals against average and has posted one shutout, combining with Ryan Wagner on two others. Wagner has also recorded one individual clean sheet.

Mercyhurst will host rival Gannon Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 4 p.m. Wednesday will be the 41st meeting between the two teams, with the Lakers holding a 22-16-2 edge all-time. The match will conclude the first half of divisional play for the two teams. Mercyhurst is second in the PSAC West with a 2-1 divisional record, while the Golden Knights (3-5-2) are in third place at 1-2 in PSAC West play.

The Lakers and Golden Knights split their two meetings in 2008, with each team earning a shutout on its home field. Mercyhurst downed Gannon 2-0 Sept. 24 at Mercyhurst Soccer Field, while the Golden Knights posted a 3-0 shutout victory on Senior Night at Gannon Univeristy Field Oct. 29. Colton registered two goals in the Lakers' win Sept. 24, while Gannon's Chad Wynter scored twice Oct. 29.

The series has been tightly-contested the last four seasons, with Mercyhurst going 4-3-2 against Gannon during that span.

This season, the Golden Knights are led in scoring by Dan Howell, who has notched six goals and three assists for 15 points. Afrim Latifi has recorded 13 points on five goals and three assists. Goalkeeper Steven Boehmer has posted a 2.00 goals against average and one shutout in 2009.

Following the Gannon match, the Lakers will host East Stroudsburg Saturday, Oct. 3 at 1 p.m.