ERIE, Pa. – Sometimes, all it takes is one. The Gannon University men's soccer team scored a goal in the first minute of Friday evening's PSAC semifinal versus No. 21 Lock Haven University and held on the rest of the way for a 1-0 victory. Sergio Del Castillo (Madrid, Spain), never afraid to rise up for a header, nodded the ball home for his team-leading 12^th goal of the season.
 
The Golden Knights, the second seed from the PSAC West, advance into the team's second consecutive PSAC men's soccer championship game (and third of the last four) where they will face a familiar foe: the No. 3 seeded Millersville Marauders, who denied Gannon in 2019's title game with a 1-0 final scoreline. The Marauders ousted the No. 1 seed from the West, Mercyhurst, with a 2-0 victory earlier Friday afternoon. Millersville has won the last two PSAC men's soccer championships (in 2018 and 2019) and will be playing for a three-peat. The two teams also met in 2017's PSAC quarterfinals—where Gannon was a 2-0 winner—as well as during the 2019 regular season, where the Knights picked up a 2-1 road victory.
 
Gannon's defense, anchored by PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Year Bautista Corti (Manuel Alberti, Argentina/Adultos 2000), played brilliantly in Friday's semifinal, protecting the 1-0 lead for 89 minutes and earning the team's eighth shutout of the season. The mix of youth (freshmen Corti, Magnus Clausen (Vraa, Denmark/Campus Vejle) and Peter Wagner (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep)) have meshed with veterans (senior Layton Bigham and graduate student Maximilano Rocco) to propel the Knights onward in the tournament.
 
Lock Haven's decorated offensive players (PSAC East Athlete of the Year Beckham Sibiski and PSAC East Rookie of the Year Sam Hershey) were held to just two and one shots, respectively. The typical Gannon pressure on the ball stifled the Bald Eagle attack to the tune of just 10 total shots (three on goal) while the Knights launched 19 total attempts (five on goal.)
 
The only goal of the game came from an early Gannon set piece, with Bek Nurlanbek (Almaty, Kazakhstan/Loughborough College) whipping in the cross that bounced all the way to the far side of the pitch and freshman Peter Wagner (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep). Wagner sent in a cross of his own that Del Castillo attacked in the air and looped past Lock Haven keeper Aitor Ruiz De Eguilaz. The assist, credited to Wagner, was the first of his collegiate career. Del Castillo led the way for the Knights with six total shots, while Benjamin Querling (Zuelpich, Germany/Emil-Fischer Gymnasium) (four) and Bek Nurlanbek (Almaty, Kazakhstan/Loughborough College) (three, including a dipping free kick late in the first half) also contributed plenty of threat.
 
The PSAC men's soccer championship game featuring Gannon and Millersville kicks off on Sunday, November 14 at 1:00 p.m at Saxon Stadium on the campus of Mercyhurst University. The all-time series between the two teams, fittingly, is tied 7-7. Either Millersville or Gannon has been involved in every PSAC Championship game since 2015.

TICKET INFORMATION FOR 2021 PSAC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Cash only. Credit cards not accepted.

TICKET PRICES

Adults: $10.00
Youth: $5.00
Students from PSAC institutions: Free with valid school ID