ERIE, Pa. – For the first time in four matches between Gannon University and Mercyhurst University women's soccer, there is a winner—the Golden Knights broke the streak of three consecutive draws and scored three goals in a decisive 3-1 victory on Saturday evening. The team has now won three straight games and six of its last seven. Taylor Lewis (Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek) opened the scoring in the 24^th minute with her team-leading sixth goal of the season and the Knights added a pair of goals in the second half from Gabby Boden (Butler, Pa./Butler) and Laurel Prokopchak (Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek).
 
With the win, Gannon (7-2-2 overall, 7-2-2 PSAC) solidifies second place in the PSAC West, just two points behind first-place Slippery Rock. Mercyhurst (6-3-1 overall, 7-4-1 PSAC) remains in third place in the West standings.
 
Gannon dominated possession in the first half and was rewarded from a set piece in the 24^th minute. Megan McCartney (Chicora, Pa./Karns City) took a corner kick, whipping a great ball in to Laurel Prokopchak (Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek), who got a touch on it towards goal. The Mercyhurst defense tried to clear, but the ball went straight to the foot of Lewis, who smashed it into the net to take the lead.
 
The Golden Knights added an insurance goal in the 53^rd minute. Sarah Fails (Girard, Pa./Villa Maria) beat two defenders down the left side of the field and sent a terrific pass forward to Boden in front of goal. Gabby took a great first touch, turned, and fired low to the near post to make it 2-0.
 
Mercyhurst responded about six minutes later from a set piece, when Amber Thomas incredibly went for goal from a free kick almost 40 yards out. The ball floated in the air at an impossible angle and dropped in to bring the Lakers within a goal.
 
Any hope of a comeback for the home team was shut down by Gannon late in the game in the 86^th minute from another free kick. Kayla Bevacqua (Welland, Ontario/Notre Dame) sent a dangerous ball into the box, where Fails got a slight touch on it as it bounced once and was directed past the keeper by the head of Prokopchak.
 
After only scoring three goals in the first four games of the fall season, Gannon has now scored sixteen times in its last seven matches. The Knight offense also dominated the shot numbers in the game, outshooting Mercyhurst 19-8 (8-3 shots on goal) and earning three corner kicks to the Lakers' one.
 
The march through the second half of the 2021 season continues for the Knights on Wednesday, Oct. 20 with a road match at Indiana (Pa.) Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m., and the two teams played to a 0-0 draw after two overtimes back on Sept. 18.