MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst men's soccer team took a first-half lead on a goal from
Connor Wilkinson, but top-seeded Millersville scored late in the first and one more in the second to see out the 2-1 win in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference semifinal on Friday evening at Pucillo Field.
The Lakers appeared to have a chance in the fourth minute, but the attack was called back on an offsides. It would take until the 13th minute before Millersville would record a chance when Spencer Shortt missed wide of goalkeeper
Martin Jarc. Mercyhurst had two opportunities thanks to consecutive corner kicks in the 19th, but one amounted to nothing and then the second one was met with shouts of handball on the ensuing cross into the box, however the referee did not agree.
A blast from
Henri Tophoven led to the first save of the match by Marauders keeper Darian McCauley to preserve the scoreless draw into the 34th minute. Jarc would then be tested for the first time at the 35:23 mark turning away the attempt from Jake Gosselin. After yet another offsides call the Lakers found the breakthrough as Wilkinson took advantage of a misplay by McCauley to cash in for the 1-0 edge in the 37th.
Four straight home attempts only forced one Jarc save to keep it 1-0 into the 40th. The visitors appeared to go up 2-0 with 2:45 remaining, but it was called back for offsides as the ball was headed into the net. Matteo Adiletta would then level the score heading into the break.
The Lakers recorded the first two chances of the second half with Tophoven being denied by McCauley and
Ian Harris delivering one high and to the left in opening four minutes. After a save from Jarc on an attempt from Nathan Erb, Wilkinson caused McCauley to make yet another save in the 64th. Five minutes later Wilkinson was back on the attack with a shot going wide, before fizzing one over the top at 67:31. Mercyhurst kept up the attack with
Salvador Rang and Tophoven each making McCauley make a save. The game entered the final ten minures still locked at 1-1, but at 80:19 off a throw-in Shortt set up Gosselin who was able to slip his shot past Jarc for the 2-1 lead.
Mario Castel would have a free kick sail high and a late chance by
Salvatore Canzoneri was knocked aside by McCauley for the 2-1 final.
Mercyhurst carried the play in the second half outshooting Millersville 14-6 and 18-13 for the match. The Lakers also held a 9-5 edge in corner kicks.
Wilkinson had a match-high seven shots to along with the lone Hurst goal. Tophoven had three with all on frame. In cage, Jarc made three saves.
Gosselin and Erb each had four shots for the Marauders, while Adiletta added three. McCauley made eight saves, including seven in the second-half to hold on for the win.
