ERIE, Pa. – Graduate student Oliver Gage registered a goal and an assist  to boost the No.6 Mercyhurst men's soccer team to a 3-0 win over Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference foe Ashland University Sunday afternoon in a non-conference match at the Mercyhurst Soccer Field.

The Lakers improve to 7-1-0 overall while the Eagles are now 2-5-2 on the year.
Mercyhurst struck first in the 23^rd minute when Gage delivered a pass to sophomore Nate Stern who broke through two defenders then tallied his first goal of the season low and inside the right post.  The assist from Gage marked his first of the 2011 campaign. 

Less than a minute later junior Austin Solomon made a crossing pass to Gage who deposited the ball in the top shelf, giving the Lakers a 2-0 lead.  Gage's goal was his second of the season and the assist marked Solomon's team-leading fourth.

Senior Billy Colton sealed the game for the Lakers after freshman Fernando Martinez split two defenders with a well timed pass, Colton then chipped the ball past the goalie giving the Lakers a 3-0 lead with 32 minutes left in the contest.
 
Colton now leads the team with five goals which puts him just eight goals away from surpassing Mike Blythe's 56 all-time career goals.  The Lakers forward currently owns 49 career goals.

Lakers goalkeeper Diego Gustin made two saves earning him his second shutout of the season and the eighth of his career.   His counterpart, Kurt Innes started his first game of the season and made six saves.

Mercyhurst held a slight 13-12 edge in shot attempts but put nine shots on goal.  The Lakers took four corners compared to the Eagles two.

The Lakers travel to Shippensburg, Pa to take on the Shippensburg Raiders on Wednesday, Sept. 22.  The match is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m.