MERCYHURST (0-0-0) vs PENN STATE (0-0-0)
Thursday Aug. 20 – 7:00 p.m.
University Park, Pa. – Jeffrey Field
TV: Big Ten Plus
The Mercyhurst Men's Soccer team is set to kick off their season with a highly anticipated match against Penn State. This event will take place on August 20th at 7 PM at Jeffrey Field, located in University Park, Pennsylvania.
Mercyhurst Lakers' Season Opener
The Mercyhurst Lakers will be led by head coach Austin Solomon, who is entering his fourth season as head coach and his 16th season with the program overall. Returning to the team are notable All-NEC selections Benjamin Buckley and Santiago Giraldo, both of whom were named to the NEC Second Team last season. Giraldo led the Lakers with three goals and seven points while recording 28 shots and 12 shots on goal across 15 appearances. Buckley also scored three goals, finishing with six points on 18 shots and seven shots on goal in 12 appearances.
Alvar Silva also returns after a strong 2025 campaign, starting 15 of 16 appearances and finishing first on the team with 10 points. Silva tied for second with two goals while leading the Lakers with six assists and recording 27 shots and nine shots on goal.
Storylines to Watch
Coach Austin Solomon has expressed excitement and readiness to begin the third year of Mercyhurst's transition to Division I. He emphasizes the team's commitment to proving their competitiveness in the NEC.
Coach's Insight
"We are extremely excited to begin year three of our transition to Division I. We view this season as an opportunity to prove to ourselves that we can consistently compete in the NEC, while understanding the challenge that comes with doing so.
We have a great group of young men who are committed to becoming the team capable of achieving the goals we have set for ourselves this season. We have learned valuable lessons throughout our spring segment and preseason, and now we are looking forward to putting those lessons into action in the coming matches.
This season, we have a much more balanced schedule than in previous years, with nine home matches and nine away matches. Our nine home games provide a tremendous opportunity to build a strong home-field advantage, and we want to encourage our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and fellow athletic teams to come out and support us this fall. The energy and support from our community can make a tremendous difference for our players.
We are excited for the opportunity ahead and look forward to representing Mercyhurst with pride throughout the season."
Last Time at Penn State
Last year, Mercyhurst faced a challenging match against Penn State, resulting in a 5-0 loss. The Lakers aim to improve upon last season's performance and start their season on a positive note.
Venue Information
The game will take place at Jeffrey Field in University Park, Pennsylvania. Fans planning to attend can enjoy the match at the home of Penn State Men's Soccer. For those unable to attend in person, the game will be broadcast live on Big Ten Plus. Parking information is available at ParkWhiz.
Up Next
Following the season-opening matchup at Penn State, the Lakers will return home to Saxon Stadium for their 2026 home opener against Drexel on Sunday, Aug. 23 at 3 p.m.
