Box Score LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The #8 Mercyhurst men's soccer team clinched their third consecutive Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) regular season title with a win over Lock Haven, 5-1.
The Lakers got off to another quick start as Junior Richard Vanhorne recorded a hat trick in the first 21 minutes of the first half. His first goal came off an assist from Dane Rimko. Rimko was able to find Vanhorne on a cross pass from the right side near the post to go up, 1-0, in the 2nd minute.
In the 19th minute, Rimko found Vanhorne again, this time in the box where he generated a shot from the far post for the, 2-0, lead. Rimko has now recorded three assists on the year.
Just two minutes later, in the 21st minute, Vanhorne would take a tough angled shot near the post off a Mark Roche pass. Vanhorne would convert the shot for his ninth goal of the season and, 3-0, Laker advantage. It was Roche's third assist of the season.
The Bald Eagles would get on the board in the 31st minute to negate the two consecutive shutouts. Troy Amspacher would record his seventh goal of the year off a long pass from his teammate Tyler Sablyak. Amspacher's shot from the far post just beat Laker goalkeeper Ryan Arvin for a, 3-1, halftime lead.
The Lakers would go onto score two second half goals.
Senior Fernando Martinez received a pass from Danny Deakin that he was able to finish just under the crossbar at the 71:26 mark for his ninth goal of the season. It is Deakin's 12th assist, as he continues to climb the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) assist leader board.
In the 88th minute, Mark Roche took a free kick from 40 yards out that squeaked under the bar for his first goal of the season.
Arvin recorded one save as he still remains to beaten while in net with a 10-0-0 record.
The victory clinches the number one seed and will also give Mercyhurst the opportunity to host the PSAC tournament on November 7 and 8 at Mercyhurst Soccer Field. They will receive a first round bye along with the second place conference finisher.
Mercyhurst's record 15-2-0 and 9-1-0 in PSAC play as Lock Haven falls to 5-10-1 and 4-6-0 in the conference.
The Lakers will be back in action Saturday, November 1, at rival Gannon. Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m.
