ERIE, Pa. – The 20th-ranked Mercyhurst men's soccer team opened its 2017 campaign with a 3-1 loss to second-ranked Charleston at Mercyhurst Soccer Field Thursday afternoon.

After a scoreless first half, Mercyhurst broke the ice first with a goal less than three minutes into the second half. Fjodor Van Kippersluis entered the game as a substitute to begin the half and contributed immediately by redirecting a touch pass from Connor Wilkinson for his first goal as a Laker and the game's first score.

It didn't take long for Charleston to respond with an equalizer, as the Golden Eagles' Armando Tikvic shot one into the Lakers' net just over a minute later to tie the game at one.

The Lakers had a few solid chances in the second half to retake the lead but failed to convert. They finished with eight total shots (three on goal) to Charleston's 11 (six on goal). Charleston also an edge with nine corner kick opportunities to Mercyhurst's four.

Charleston broke through to take a 2-1 lead in the 81^st minute with a goal from substitute Ettro Bellastracci. Two chances from the Lakers' Christopher Makengo and Aaron Benjamin sailed wide shortly after Charleston's second score. Will Roberts put the game away with the Golden Eagles' third goal on a breakaway to hand the Lakers their first loss of the season.

Mercyhurst will host Notre Dame College in its next game Sunday, September 3, at Mercyhurst Soccer Field beginning at 3:30 p.m.