Erie, Pa – The eighth-ranked Mercyhurst Men's Soccer continues their season with two games this week. They are scheduled to take on Shepherd on Wednesday, October 5th and follow that with their rivalry match against Gannon on Saturday, October 8th.
1. PSAC West Standings
The Lakers hold on to their spot at the top of PSAC West standings as they are still undefeated and boast an impressive 10-0-1 record overall and 4-0 conference record. Gannon sits at the second spot in PSAC West with 8-2-1 overall record and 3-0-1 in conference making Saturday's game an important one as the Golden Knights are looking to overtake the Lakers at the top spot in the standings.
2. Individual Success
Sean Kerrigan has led the charge for the Lakers on offense with nine goals and four assists in ten games played this season. He is followed by Nic Münch who has scored five goals and recorded three assists while Dylan Sumner's playmaking has created many scoring situations for the Lakers, leading the PSAC in assists with seven. He has also scored four goals with two of them coming last Friday in the game against Slippery Rock. Defense also gets in on the action as Martin Grzywa scored two goals and recorded four assists this season while Jonathan Gomes continues his impressive campaign with eight shutouts to his ledger.
3. Team Success In Numbers
The Lakers have had a great start to the 2022 season with ten wins and one tie. In just eleven games, the Lakers have scored 32 goals with 25 of them coming off of an assist. They have been an offensive force as they average three goals per game on 19 shots per game. Mercyhurst has also drawn 60 corner kicks and turned many of them into goal opportunities. Mercyhurst's performance has been appreciated by United Soccer Coaches Association as the Lakers are ranked eighth in their latest poll.
4. Defense Wins Games
Mercyhurst's defense has been a key to the team's success. In eleven games played so far, the Lakers have allowed only three goals. Their opponents average just six shots per game and only 42% of them are on target. Players like Ryan Lieser, Martin Grzywa, and Axel Aronsson ensure that the opponents don't create scoring situations and put pressure on the ball, so they don't feel comfortable dribbling. Jonathan Gomes leadership have been a crucial part of defensive effort, as in nine games played this season he only allowed one goal.
5. Scouting The Opponents
Mercyhurst has never lost to Shepherd before, gaping 2-0, and won the last matchup by a score of 6-0. Shepherd is coming into Wednesday's game with 1-6-4 record as they lost to Lock Haven and tied with Frostburg State last week. Freshman Justin Langon has been their best scorer with three goals so far this season.
The matchup on Saturday is set to be a great challenge for the Lakers, as they take on their crosstown rival – Gannon. The winner of this game takes the first spot in the PSAC West standings. The Golden Knights are a well-balanced team with a plethora of experienced players. Sergio Del Castillo leads the team and PSAC in goals with 18. He is helped by a freshman Orten Sverre, who has scored three goals and recorded five assists, and Benjamin Querling scorer of five goals. Stopping them will be a key to winning the game this Saturday.
The Lakers host Shepherd this Wednesday, October 5th at 1:00 pm. They follow that with matchup against Gannon on Saturday, October 8th at McConell Family Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 3:00 pm.
