ERIE, Pa. – Michael Blancato's insurance goal in the second half proved to be a game-winner in Mercyhurst's 4-3 win over Millersville Saturday afternoon at Mercyhurst Soccer Field.
 
After clinching the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) regular season crown back on Wednesday, the Lakers were playing to improve their national ranking before entering the playoffs. Mercyhurst had a rude awakening early in the game when Millersville pounced on its first scoring opportunity. In the second minute, Chris Sosa lobbed a shot over Lakers' keeper Martin Jarc to give the Marauders the early 1-0 lead.
 
Mercyhurst came back to tie the game 11 minutes later. Connor Wilkinson fed Thom Derks a pass in the box and Derks ripped it far-side lower corner to tie the game at one in the 13^th minute.
 
Millersville only had two shot attempts in the first half, but both found their target. After a Mercyhurst foul in the penalty area, Sosa lined up a penalty kick against Jarc and scored his second goal of the game. The Marauders led 2-1 in the 22^nd minute.
 
Mercyhurst wasn't done scoring in the first half and the Lakers' equalizer came in the 38^th minute. The Lakers strung together several one-touch passes until Michael Blancato completed the passing chain to Wilkinson. Wilkinson blasted a shot into the upper right corner for his third goal of the season, knotting the game at two before halftime.
 
Mercyhurst broke the back-and-forth pattern of scoring in the 52^nd minute of the second half. Wilkinson and Derks paired up for another goal. This time, Wilkinson's cross shot up into the air and Derks volleyed it into the net to send the Lakers ahead 3-2. After two goals in the game, Derks finished the regular season with 21 scores.
 
Derks went on the attack again just three minutes later and help set up a much-needed insurance goal for Mercyhurst. His low cross was one-touched into the net by the spinning Blancato to put the Lakers up 4-2. The goal was Blancato's second of the season.
 
The importance of Blancato's goal was heightened in the 72^nd minute when Millersville cut the lead to just one. Nathan Delgado volleyed a shot that slipped through the hands of Jarc and into the net to give Millersville some life, but it wasn't enough. The Lakers shut down the Marauder's opportunities after that, holding Millersville to six shots on goal in the game while accumulating 11 shots on goal of their own.
 
After the 4-3 win, the Lakers completed the regular season with a PSAC-best 10-1-0 conference record and a 13-4-1 mark on the entire season. Mercyhurst will play host to the PSAC Tournament next week, beginning on November 1^st. More tournament details are to come.