CALIFORNIA, Pa. – The #11 Mercyhurst men's soccer team picked up their seventh Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) win at California (Pa.), 3-1.

The Lakers took the early advantage, as junior Richard Vanhorne received a pass from Danny Deakin in traffic but was still able to play the ball and put the shot past Vucans' goalkeeper Shane Donovan in the 3^rd minute. The goal was Vanhorne's fourth of the season.

With the assist, Deakin, a Sheffield, England native, is now tied for first with ten assists in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II ranks. He still currently leads the PSAC by three.

Mercyhurst would hold the, 1-0, advantage going into halftime.

At the beginning of the second, the Vulcans would answer in the 52^nd minute to tie the game, 1-1. California's Lubos Kubik provided a pass across the box that found Djorde Babic who tapped it to Tyler Woolum for his second goal of the season.

In the 64^th minute, Fernando Martinez would respond with a goal to take back the lead, 2-1. Defenseman Mark Roche crossed the ball that found Martinez in the middle of the box to set up a strike that beat Donovan for his seventh goal of the season. With the goal, Martinez has now scored in three consecutive games.

Mercyhurst would add one more goal for insurance in the 80^th minute to lead, 3-1. This time it was Jack Watson who received a pass from Martinez to set up the goal. It was Watson's 16^th goal of the season, as he continues to move up the NCAA ranks, where he now resides tied for fourth in goals scored. He also continues to lead the PSAC in goals by five. For Martinez, it is his sixth assist of the season.

The Vulcans were unable to amount a comeback, as Mercyhurst would win their ninth straight game. The Lakers would go on to out shoot California, 16-6, and held the Vulcans to only three shots on goal to Mercyhursts' eight.

There were four cautions handed out during the contest. Seniors Ryan Lund and Martinez both recorded yellow cards for the Lakers as Cory Kuzilla and Nathan Delgado also received a yellow card for the Vulcans.

Goalkeeper Ryan Arvin recorded two saves on three shots on goal. Arvin, a Jupiter, Florida native, continues his perfect record while in net, as his record improves to 8-0-0.

The Lakers are now 13-2-0 overall and are7-1-0 in the PSAC. With 21 points in the standings, which are tied for first with Bloomsburg, the Lakers hold the tie breaker with their win over the Huskies on October 11 at home. There are three PSAC games remaining on the schedule. Mercyhurst controls their own destiny to win the conference regular season title, and the privilege to host the PSAC tournament.

With a win or tie on Saturday, October 25, for senior day against Slippery Rock, the Lakers would clinch a playoff berth for the third consecutive season. The game is set to begin at 3:30 p.m.