Erie, Pa –No. 9 Mercyhurst Men's Soccer continues PSAC West play with two games this week. They take on Seton Hill on Wednesday, September 21^st. Then the Lakers travel to Johnstown on Saturday, September 24^th for a match against UPJ.
 
PSAC West Standings
Mercyhurst currently sits in first place in PSAC West standings with 1-0 conference record, and 7-0-1 overall. The Lakers are still undefeated and put themselves in a great spot at this point of the season. The ninth ranked Mercyhurst squad hope to continue their success and finish the regular season at the top. Slippery Rock takes the second spot in PSAC West with 1-0 conference record and 3-2-1 overall.
 
History Lesson
The matchup with Seton Hill is set to be the second conference game of the season. The Lakers recorded one win and one loss against the Griffins last season, with the October game ending with decisive 3-0 win for Mercyhurst. Dylan Sumner recorded a goal and assist in that match, and Nic Münch had one assist.
 
The Lakers have never lost to UPJ before. In the last matchup they dominated their opponent, winning the game by a score of 8-1. Games against UPJ tend to be high-scoring as in 2017 the Lakers exploded for a program-record 13 goals in its 13-1 victory against the Mountain Cats.
 
Team Success In Numbers
Mercyhurst had a great start to the 2022 season with seven wins and one tie. Their performance earned them ninth place in the ranking by United Soccer Coaches.  In just eight games, the Lakers scored 24 goals, with 18 of them assisted. They have been an offensive force so far as they average 3 goals per game on 17 shots per game. The Lakers also outperformed their opponents on defense and allowed only three goals through eight games.
 
Individual Success
Sean Kerrigan has led the charge for the Lakers with eight goals and four assists in only seven games played this season. Münch is another player having a great season, as he scored four goals and recorded two assists. Jonathan Gomes received PSAC West Defensive Player of the Week award for his performance in the goal for the Lakers. He recorded 13 saves and five clean sheets so far, and his leadership has been a key to the team's continued success.
 
Scouting The Opponents
The Griffins come into the Wednesday game with 1-5-1 record. Despite their inconsistent play this season they can surprise anybody. They tied with Gannon, and defeated Salem by a score of 3-0. Junior Fletcher Amos leads the team in scoring with three goals. The Lakers' defense needs to keep an eye on him.
 
UPJ is still looking for the first win of the season. They currently have 0-3-1 record and hope to improve their performance going forward. UPJ is trying to find their identity as a team, as neither offense nor defense have played good so far. The Lakers need to come out strong from the kick-off and dominate the game right away.
 
The Lakers are set to host Seton Hill on Wednesday, September 21^st at 1:00 pm. They will take on UPJ on Saturday, September 24^th in Johnstown, PA. Kick-off is also scheduled for 1:00 pm.