Football | 8/31/2016 12:32:00 AM

OFFICIAL NOTES - PREVIEW INSIDE

LIVE STATS

LIVE VIDEO

LIVE AUDIO (WMCE 88.5 FM)

THE GAME
The Mercyhurst football team will open its 2016 season when it visits sixth-ranked Ashland for a non-conference game on Sept. 1. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

The Lakers had a 5-6 overall record and 2-5 slate in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division play.

The host Eagles are also opening their season. They went 10-1 last year, winning the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship with a 10-0 mark. Ashland fell in the NCAA Tournament opening round, losing to fellow GLIAC member Grand Valley State, 45-28.

THE COACHES
Marty Schaetzle (Bucknell '83) is in his 15th season as head coach for Mercyhurst./ He owns a 74-80 record. He is a three-time PSAC West Coach of the Year (2008, 2010, 2014) and has coached the Lakers to two PSAC West regular-season championships (2010, 2012) and one PSAC overall title (2010). Prior to coaching at Mercyhurst, Schaetzle has held assistant coach positions at Bucknell, Shippensburg, Northern Arizona, Sonoma State, Arizona and Albany.

Lee Owens (Bluffton '77) is in his 14th year as head coach for Ashland. He has totaled a 129-103 record in his first 21 years as a varsity football coach. In 13 seasons with the Eagles, Owens is 89-42. He previously coached NCAA Division I Akron to a 40-61 record through nine years. Prior to becoming a collegiate head coach, he was an assistant at Ohio State and a high school head coach at four different Ohio high schools.

NEXT UP
The Lakers will play their second consecutive road game when they visit Kutztown for a PSAC interdivisional game on Saturday, Sept. 10, for a 5:05 p.m. start.

The Golden Bears will open their season Saturday, Sept. 3, with a 1 p.m. non-conference contest at Assumption.