ERIE, Pa. – The 15th-ranked Mercyhurst men's soccer team scored three unanswered goals to knock off the Senators from Davis & Elkins College, 3-1.  Freshman Fernando Martinez netted two goals including the game winner to help the Lakers move to 4-0-0 on the season.

Davis & Elkins shocked the Lakers with an early goal in the 21^st minute. The Senators' Alberto DiGirolamo headed a pass to David Nuernberg who chipped the ball over Laker goalkeeper Diego Gustin for an early lead.

Seven minutes after a Laker substitution, graduate student Oliver Gage received a well-timed pass from senior Arash Fahandezh to net the equalizer. Gage, 10 yards out, lobbed the ball into the top left shelf of the goal for his first goal of the season.

Gage and senior Billy Colton both put a shot on goal in the last seven minutes of the half but Senators keeper Daniel Nock denied both opportunities.

The Lakers applied heavy offensive pressure during the second half to maintain control of the ball for the majority of the time.  In the 76^th minute, Martinez ripped a ball from 25 yards out after Colton led him into his shot.  The shot sailed out of reach of the goalie and found the back of the net for the freshman's second goal of the season.  Four minutes later, Martinez notched his second of the game and third of the season, this time chasing down a deflection and finessing the ball over top of the goalie.

Gustin made four saves including a diving stop in the 62^nd minute to keep the match knotted. Gustin has made 11 saves on the year posting a 0.93 goals against average in four games.  Gustin now owns a 4-0-0 record on the season.  His counterpart, Nock, made four saves as well and moves to 1-2-0 on the year.

The defense for the Lakers didn't falter as they continuously turned away the Senators, dissolving any attack before it could begin. Senior Eric Steinmetz, freshman Ryan Lund, and sophomore Matthew Campana led the defensive charge for the Lakers. Freshman Kevin Barry also provided support to the Laker defense that has allowed just three goals this season.

The Lakers next match will be Thursday, September 15 at 4 p.m. at the Mercyhurst Soccer Field, when the Lakers host Shepherd University.  If you are unable to attend the match, see our website for live stats.