#18 GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (11-1-1, 4-0-1 PSAC West) vs. CAL U VULCANS (2-7-2, 1-3-1 PSAC West)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, October 23, 2021 | 7:30 p.m.
STADIUM/LOCATION: McConnell Family Stadium l Erie, Pa.
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THE GANNON-CAL U SERIES
Gannon leads all-time 18-7: .720 winning percentage
Home vs. Cal U: Gannon is 5-4 all-time
First meeting: 1989
Last meeting: Saturday, October 2, 2021 – Gannon 2, Cal U 1 | RECAP
 
ERIE, Pa. – The second round-robin versus the PSAC West kicks off this Saturday for the No. 18-ranked Gannon University men's soccer team as they welcome Cal U to McConnell Family Stadium at 7:30 p.m. The match is Gannon's first home contest since Oct. 9 but the team closes the regular season with three consecutive matches at home (versus Seton Hill, Mercyhurst, and Slippery Rock.) The Golden Knights currently sit atop the PSAC West standings with 13 points, one ahead of second-place Seton Hill and five clear of third-place Mercyhurst.
 
Cal U and Gannon met earlier this month on Oct 2, with the Knights picking up the 2-1 road victory thanks to a pair of first-half goals from Sergio Del Castillo (Madrid, Spain). Del Castillo also scored a brace in Wednesday's non-conference win at Daemen College and has accomplished the feat three times this fall on his way to a total eight goals, the second-most on the team behind Tinashe Katsande's (Norwich, England/Dereham Sixth Form College) 10 tallies.
 
Katsande's numbers are impressive in both the PSAC and beyond: he ranks first in the conference in goals (10), goals per game (.91), and total points (21). His goals per game number is ranked 11^th in all of Division II and the 10 goals ranks him 17^th nationally—despite missing two games last week due to injury. As a team, the Knights' defensive record has been impressive—ranking first in the conference in goals against average (.818) which is also 19^th-best in the country.
 
Gannon has not been beaten since Sept. 18 (2-1 to then-ranked No. 13 Wilmington) and enters Saturday having won seven of the last eight matches. Cal U last played on Oct. 13 in a non-conference tilt versus West Liberty (winning 2-1) but prior to that were winless (0-3-1) in the last four matches.

The Vulcans are paced offensively by junior Evan Blunkosky, who has notched a team-leading three goals this season. Negus Johnson and Zach Vanek each have two goals in addition to seven other Vulcans that have scored a single goal. Junior goalkeeper Trevor Zabilowicz has started 10 games, made 39 saves, and carries a 2.32 goals-against-average.
 
After Saturday's match, only four matches remain in the regular season—beginning with the final away contest on the schedule at Pitt-Johnstown (1-9-1 overall, 0-5 PSAC) on Wednesday, Oct. 27 at 1:30 p.m.