The Mercyhurst College men’s soccer team earned the No. 1 seed in the Penslyvania State Athletic Conference West with the defeat of Slippery Rock University last Tuesday.

The Lakers finished the season with a 7-1 PSAC record.

In the first half of the game junior Michael De Rose sent a breathtaking header into the net for the Laker’s first goal.
The Rock also produced one goal in the first half, making the score 1-1.

The second half brought an advantage for Mercyhurst as Slippery Rock was forced to play a man down the entire half when one of their players red-carded.

The Lakers embraced this opportunity, allowing for more time and space in the midfield. Despite the advantage, time still seemed to be running out with the game tied and the Lakers needed a break.

That break came in the 80th minute when junior Billy Colton knocked in the game-winner for the team.

The Lakers held on the last 10 minutes for the 2-1 victory over Slippery Rock.

On Oct. 30 the men approached their final game of the regular season at Lake Erie College. Down 2-0 after the first half, the Lakers were a bit discouraged but kept to their goals of the season and fought back.

In the second half, Colton cut the deficit in half, 2-1. Late in the game, Lake Erie knocked in another goal, giving them a two-goal lead that stuck. Despite an extreme amount of hard work by the Lakers, Lake Erie held on for the 3-1 victory.

Although an upsetting game for the team, the men’s team concluded the regular season with an impressive 14-5 record and an even more impressive no. one seed in the PSAC West.

On Wednesday, Nov. 4, the Lakers will host Slippery Rock for game 1 in the PSAC semi-finals.