CALIFORNIA (Oct. 3) – After tying the match in the 49th minute, the Vulcans surrendered two goals in the second half to fall by a 3-1 count against Mercyhurst in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action at Phillipsburg Soccer Complex on Wednesday evening.
With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania men's soccer team drops to 1-5-3 overall behind a 0-5 record in league play. Meanwhile, the Lakers improve to 5-3-2 this season with a 2-1-2 mark in conference action.
In the first half, both teams traded possession the in the opening minutes before Mercyhurst junior Hady Sarr scored in the ninth minute on a give-and-go with senior Hunter Burri to take an early 1-0 lead. The physicality of the match increased with the Lakers receiving two yellow cards, while the Vulcans saw a pair of shots blocked by the defense. Mercyhurst put together an few scoring chances late in the half, but were unable to find the back of the net. Cal U went into halftime trailing by a goal, while the Lakers held a 7-2 advantage in shots.
The Vulcans responded after the break, as senior
Eric Campbell (Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek) tallied his team-leading third goal of the season at the 48:57-mark with assist registered by redshirt freshman
Conner Griest (Biglerville, Pa./Biglerville) to tie the game. Mercyhust countered just four minutes later, as freshman Henri Tophoven scored on a rebound off the post, his fifth goal of the season, to put the Lakers back in front 2-1. Senior goalkeeper
Lucas Exner (Horstmar, Germany/Pascal-Gymnasium) tallied three saves in a 12-minute span to keep Cal U within striking distance in the second half. In the 88th minute, the Vulcans were called for a hand ball in the box to force a penalty kick. Mercyhurst junior Alex Garcia Piles took advantage of the call and fired in his second goal of the year to give the Lakers a 3-1 lead.
Exner posted four saves on 19 shots faced in 90 minutes of action. He moved into third place all-time in school history in goalie minutes with 4,312:19 minutes played over 52 appearances, passing
Anthony Mayer (1995-97), who totaled 4,257 minutes between the posts.
Mercyhurst held a 19-6 shot advantage and recorded a 6-3 edge in corner kicks.
The Vulcans return to action on Saturday, Oct. 6, when they travel to face West Chester in PSAC action, starting at 12 p.m.
