ERIE, Pa – The No. 19-ranked Gannon University men's soccer team fell behind by a goal to Slippery Rock early in the match but fought back thanks to goals from Sergio Del Castillo (Madrid, Spain) and Charlie Petersen (Erie, Pa./McDowell) to win Saturday's regular season finale, 2-1. Del Castillo's strike was his team-leading 11^th of the fall season while Petersen's was his first of 2021 and second career Golden Knights goal. Gannon's record improves to 14-2-2 (7-1-2 PSAC West) while The Rock ends its season 6-10-2 overall (3-7 PSAC West.)

The Knights' victory also secured the team's second-place finish in the PSAC West behind Mercyhurst. Both teams finished the season with 23 points but the Lakers claimed the PSAC West title due to the head-to-head tiebreaker over Gannon. With Mercyhurst earning the first-round bye, the Golden Knights now welcome third-place Seton Hill to McConnell Family Stadium next Tuesday, Nov. 9 in the PSAC Quarterfinals with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
 
On Saturday evening it was Slippery Rock who started brightly, with a quick goal from a set piece in the 2^nd minute. Joe Skillicorn sent in a pinpoint corner kick to the head of Joey Moeller, who headed home his third goal of 2021 for the early 1-0 lead. Gannon responded with a similar play for the equalizer in the 20^th minute, with Bek Nurlanbek (Almaty, Kazakhstan/Loughborough College) whipping the ball from the corner flag to Del Castillo at the near post. Del Castillo rose up and got plenty of power on the header across the face of goal to make it 1-1. Nurlanbek's assist was his team-high eighth of 2021.
 
Del Castillo also had a hand in the go-ahead goal in the 34^th minute, as he dribbled down and held up play in the offensive third. He laid the ball back for a wide open Charlie Petersen (Erie, Pa./McDowell), who had acres to shoot and dialed up an absolute scorcher into the top right corner of the net to give the Knights the lead for good. Del Castillo's assist was his fourth of the season.
 
Gannon's starting lineup had a bit of a different look, with freshman defender Magnus Clausen (Vraa, Denmark/Campus Vejle) earning his first start of the season and putting in a quality shift, playing all 90 minutes. Goalkeeper David Syntelien (Gjovik, Norway/Gjovik Vinderegaende) played the full 90 as well, facing seven shots and making three saves. Gannon possessed the majority of the ball in the game as The Rock looked to hit on the counterattack—the Knights held substantial advantages in shots (17-7), shots-on-goal (9-4), and corner kicks (6-2.) Four different Gannon players (Del Castillo, Nurlanbek, Tinashe Katsande (Norwich, England/Dereham Sixth Form College), and Joe Knox (Gold Coast, Australia/The Southport School)) each launched a team-high three shots in the game.
 
Gannon now prepares for Tuesday's quarterfinal versus Seton Hill. The semifinals are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 12—with the PSAC Championship game scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 14. Lock Haven University (10-1-1 PSAC) wrapped up the PSAC East title and a first-round bye, while West Chester (9-2-1 PSAC) and Millersville (8-4 PSAC) will battle in the East's quarterfinal next Tuesday.