ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon men's soccer team battled back from an early goal by California (Pa.) and opened play in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) with a 3-2 win at Gannon University Field Wednesday evening. 

Both teams came into the contest regionally-ranked. California (Pa.) is fifth in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association (NSCAA) Atlantic regional rankings while Gannon is seventh.

Gannon faced a 1-0 deficit early after the Vulcans' Brady Sanders scored just 27 seconds into the match. The Golden Knights continued to put pressure on California (Pa.) until Tyler Hollingsworth (Johannesburg, South Africa / St. David's Marist Inanda) took a pass from Sean Pike (Liverpool, England / Range) and rifled it past the Vulcans' goalkeeper. It was the first goal allowed by the Vulcans' this season. Hollingsworth quickly broke the tie, this time taking an Evan Chate (Vendays-Montalivet, France / Odilon Redon) pass and scoring for the second time just two minutes later. 

California (Pa.) was able to tie the score before the half off a penalty kick by Nemanja Visekruna that beat the Gannon goalkeeper to the right. 

The Golden Knights and the Vulcans battled for 25 scoreless minutes in the second half until Afrim Latifi (Erie, Pa / Cathedral Prep) fired from 15 yards out and picked up his second game-winning goal of the season. Latifi improves his career total and school record to 15 game-winning goals. 

Gannon outshot California (Pa.) 20-10 in the match while fouls were even at 15 each. There were five yellow cards in the match. 

With its fourth straight win Gannon improves to 4-1 on the season and 1-0 in the PSAC. California falls to 1-0-1 in the PSAC and 2-1-1 overall. 

Gannon will travel to Shippensburg Saturday, September 18 for a conference match slated for 3:00 p.m. 

For a complete box score from tonights Gannon-California (Pa) men's soccer match, please click here.