ERIE, Pa. – After four straight road matches, the Gannon men's soccer team will return to Gannon University Field for the regular-season finale. The Golden Knights will take on local rival Mercyhurst Saturday, October 29 at 4:30 p.m. to conclude the season for the second straight year.
The match will also serve as senior day for
Mario Gastaldo (Chesterland, Ohio / West Geauga),
Billy Prebis (Hinckley, Ohio / Highland),
Ross Matthews (Erie, Pa. / Cathedral Prep) and
Austin Miller (Hilliard, Ohio / Hilliard Darby) as the four will be playing in their final match at Gannon University Field.
Gannon enters the match with a 6-9-2 overall record and a 2-5-1 mark in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) matches.
Adam Sharbaugh (Sarver, Pa. / Knoch) has scored the Golden Knights last two goals and is second on the team in points with 14. Leading that category is
Robbie Bennett (Durban, South Africa / St. Benedict School) with 27 points. The freshman, who has two hat tricks this season, hasn't scored since adding Gannon's fourth goal during a 4-3 win over Bloomsburg on Ocotber 5.
Jason Barbarino (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Plum Senior) and
Michael Kickel (Erie, Pa. / Cathedral Prep) have split time in goal this season. Barbarino has been the starter in the last three matches, posting 15 saves. The sophomore holds a .684 save percentage this season with 39 total saves.
The Lakers are on the final leg of a five-match road trip, having not played at home since October 8. After opening the season with an 8-1 record, Mercyhurst has since hit a 2-5 skid. The Lakers hold a 4-4 record in conference.
Mercyhurst is led by Billy Colton's 11 goals. The senior is just one goal short of tying the Lakers' all-time goals record of 56. The current record holder is Gannon assistant coach Mickey Blythe, who played at Mercyhurst from 2001-05.
Mercyhurst is currently ranked third in the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Rankings. Mercyhurst leads the all-time series 16-24-3.
