Erie, Pa.—On Nov. 15, 2019 the Mercyhurst Men's Soccer team walked off the pitch for the final time in 2019 thinking they'd be back on the pitch in 2020. However, due to COVID-19 their regular fall season was cancelled, the Lakers played an exhibition spring schedule in 2021. After 657 days, Mercyhurst will play a regular season match on Sept. 2.
Schedule Overview
Mercyhurst plays a full 17 game schedule in 2021 as they will have seven non-conference contests against West Liberty, Bloomsburg, District of Columbia, Shepard, Salem, Daemen, and Le Moyne. PSAC West play consists of two games each against Gannon, Cal (PA), Seton Hill, UPJ, and Slippery Rock. PSAC play opens on Sept. 29 against Seton Hill with the regular season closing out on Nov. 6 with the PSAC post season to follow.
Everyone is Looking at Us
After finishing a perfect spring season with a 6-0 record in exhibition play, the Lakers sit atop the PSAC West annual preseason coach's poll. Mercyhurst won the battle of Erie in the spring as the Lakers outscored Gannon 6-2 in two wins over the Golden Knights. Gannon came in second in the preseason coach's poll. Since 2010, the Lakers have been tabbed in the top two of the PSAC preseason in eight seasons.
A Year for Firsts
Head Coach Ryan Osborne joined the Mercyhurst staff in January 2020 and has not had a regular season as the manager of the Lakers. Osborne isn't the only one starting his first competitive season with Mercyhurst. 34 Lakers will be competing for a championship for the first time in the green and white. Only 10 players return from the 2019 roster.
Coach's Corner
Osborne enters his first full season as the manger of the Lakers. Associate Head Coach Austin Solomon '13 enters his ninth season on the sideline for the Lakers. Ross Stewart enters his first season as the Graduate Assistant for Mercyhurst after coming to Erie from Crusaders Strikers FC in Northern Ireland. John Melody and Ashley Phillips joined the coaching staff last season as Volunteer Assistant Coaches.
A New Way to Watch
Starting in the fall of 2021 the PSAC will have a new streaming service to broadcast PSAC contests. All Mercyhurst and PSAC contests will be broadcasted on the PSAC Digital Network hosted by BlueFrame.
