MSOC vs. Seton Hill 9-10-22
Bryce Dolak

Men's Soccer Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Gannon to Recognize 11 Seniors Before Hosting Daemen in Final Non-Conference Match

DAEMEN WILDCATS (4-3-2, 1-2-1 ECC) at GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (8-2-1, 3-0-1 PSAC West)
SENIOR NIGHT
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, October 5, 2022 | 7:00 p.m.
STADIUM/LOCATION: McConnell Family Stadium l Erie, Pa.
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THE GANNON-DAEMEN SERIES
Gannon leads 9-2-0
Last Meeting: Oct. 20, 2021 – Gannon 3, Daemen 1 | RECAP
Gannon has won the last three meetings against the Wildcats including a 3-1 victory in Amherst, N.Y. last year. Daemen grabbed a quick 1-0 lead but Gannon scored the final three goals. Bek Nurlanbek's (Almaty, Kazakhstan/Loughborough College) goal made it 1-1 at the half, and Sergio Del Castillo (Madrid, Spain) scored twice within a span of ten minutes early in the second half.
 
ERIE, Pa. – The high-flying Gannon men's soccer team looks to extend its five-game winning streak on Wednesday, October 5 as Daemen visits McConnell Family Stadium. The match is set for a 7:00 p.m. start.

The Daemen match is the final non-conference match before the Golden Knights wrap up the regular season with six straight PSAC West contests. Head coach Billy Colton and his staff will recognize 11 seniors as Gannon celebrates Senior Day prior to the start.

In the midst of a stretch of four straight games at McConnell Family Stadium, Gannon improved to 8-2-1 overall and 3-0-1 in PSAC West action with a 7-1 win over California (Pa.) on Saturday night. Daemen also played on Saturday, picking up a 2-0 win at St. Thomas Aquinas. The Wildcats come in at 4-3-2 and are 1-2-1 in East Coast Conference action.

Daemen must try to slow down Sergio Del Castillo (Madrid, Spain), who has sparked a rejuvenated offensive attack with an incredible run. The senior midfielder has vaulted to the top of Division II in both goals (18) and points (39) while scoring 15 goals in the last five matches. Gannon has outscored its last five opponents 32-4 and ranks second in Division II with 42 total goals. Del Castillo was named the PSAC West Men's Soccer Athlete of the Week for the second straight week on Monday.

Daemen knows all too well about Del Castillo, who scored twice in the second half in last year's meeting as Gannon overcame an early deficit to win 3-1 in Amherst, N.Y.

Gannon Sweeps PSAC Weekly Honors for Second Straight Week
Gannon swept the PSAC West Men's Soccer Weekly awards for the second straight week. Sergio Del Castillo (Madrid, Spain) made it two consecutive weeks as the Athlete of the Week while freshman Pau Ferrer (Valencia, Spain/ISES Isabel de Villena) was selected the Defensive Athlete of the Week. Del Castillo had an assist in a 5-0 win at Pitt-Johnstown the contributed five goals in a 7-1 victory over California (Pa.). Ferrer, a defender, had a goal and an assist vs. Cal. In addition he keyed a defensive unit that that just one goal and eight total shots in the two games.
 
Last Time Out
Gannon spotted California (Pa.) a 1-0 lead less than seven minutes into Saturday's match then proceeded to run off the next seven goals for a 7-1 win. Gannon led 2-1 at the half thanks to a pair of Sergio Del Castillo (Madrid, Spain) goals. The senior midfielder scored three more times in the second half for five in the match for the second time this season. Pau Ferrer (Valencia, Spain/ISES Isabel de Villena) and Tinashe Katsande (Norwich, England/Dereham Sixth Form College) added goals for the Golden Knights. Samuel Alarcon (Madrid, Spain/Colegio el Valle II) was in goal for the second straight match but was not required to make a save. Gannon outshot Cal 29-5.

Daemen also played on Saturday and came away with a 2-0 win at St. Thomas Aquinas in an East Coast Conference match. Nassim Zahouani scored midway through the first half and Derek Bartlo added an insurance goal in the second half. Marcos Lerma Escobar registered his second shutout in goal recording eight saves.

Thanks Seniors
Gannon will hold its Senior Day festivities prior to the start of the Daemen match. Eleven seniors will be recognized. They include:  Layton Bingham (Gold Coast, Australia/The Southport School), Lennox Crews (Offenbach, Germany/Leibnizschule), Sergio Del Castillo (Madrid, Spain), Conner Golley (Allegany, N.Y./Allegany-Limestone), Toby Gower (Norwich, England/Long Stratton), Tinashe Katsande (Norwich, England/Dereham Sixth Form College), Georgios Koutroulis (Monchengladbach, Germany/Bischofliche Marienschule), Joe Knox (Gold Coast, Australia/The Southport School), Joshua Murray (Erie, Pa./Fort LeBoeuf), Marcus Rathburn (Waterford, Pa./Fort LeBoeuf), and Brennon Songer (Edinboro, Pa./General McLane).
 
Red-Hot Del Castillo Pacesetter in Division II, Climbing in the Record Book
Senior midfielder Sergio Del Castillo (Madrid, Spain) has climbed to the top of the statistical rankings in Division II. He leads the country in goals (18) and points (39) after scoring 15 goals over the last five matches. He has had three hat tricks during that period. It began with three goals in a 6-2 win over Wheeling, followed by five goals in a 12-1 victory at D'Youville. To prove that was no fluke he scored five goals on Saturday in a 7-1 victory over California (Pa.). Del Castillo's 18 goals are tied for tenth in a season, and he has climbed into a tie for sixth place in career goals with 47, along with now ranking eighth in career points with 109.
 
Alarcon Takes Over in Goal
David Synstelien (Gjovik, Norway/Gjovik Vinderegaende) had played every minute in goal before coming out in the 73rd minute at D'Youville, the team's eighth match. The junior owns a 1.24 GAA and .722 save percentage. Freshman Samuel Alarcon (Madrid, Spain/Colegio el Valle II) has been in goal the last two matches. He posted his first career shutout in goal at Pitt-Johnstown.

Golden Knights to Watch
Senior midfielder Sergio Del Castillo (Madrid, Spain) is the team's leading scorer with 18 goals and three assists for 39 points (SEE ABOVE). Del Castillo earned plenty of postseason accolades, culminated by a spot on the United Soccer Coaches All-American Third Team. An outstanding student, he also earned CoSIDA and United Soccer Coaches Academic All-American honors. This week he was named the United Soccer Coaches Division II Men's Soccer Player of the Week after earlier being named the PSAC West Athlete of the Week.

Benjamin Querling (Zuelpich, Germany/Emil-Fischer Gymnasium), a junior forward, has five goals and an assist and is tied for second on the team in points with 11. Freshman midfielder Sverre Orten (Orsta, Norway/Aalesund vgs) also has 11 points with three goals and five assists, while Joe Knox (Gold Coast, Australia/The Southport School) adds four goals and an assist.
 
Del Castillo is one of four returning Golden Knights to earn All-PSAC West accolades. Sophomore defender Bautista Corti (Manuel Alberti, Argentina/Adultos 2000) was named the 2021 PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Year along with earning first-team all-conference honors as a freshman. Knox, a midfielder/forward, is a third returning first-team selection after finishing with five goals and a pair of assists for 12 points. Midfielder Toby Gower (Norwich, England/Long Stratton) was a second-team All-PSAC West honoree.
 
Scouting Daemen
Daemen comes in with a 4-3-2 record and has two wins and a tie in its last three matches. Bediako Swan is in his fourth season leading the Wildcats. Daemen was picked to finish eighth in the East Coast Conference after finishing 5-11-0 last year. The Wildcats play strong defense, allowing just nine goals. Only once have they allowed more than one goal. That includes a 1-0 loss to Mercyhurst team that is now ranked eighth in Division II. Daemen is led in scoring by senior midfielder Derek Bartlo, who has three goals and three assists for nine points. Marcos Lerma Escobar, a graduate student, has started eight matches in goal and has a 1.00 GAA.
 
Next for the Golden Knights
Gannon continues its four-game homestand while beginning a stretch of six straight matches vs. PSAC West opponents to end the regular season. The Golden Knights host crosstown rival Mercyhurst (10-0-1, 4-0-0 PSAC West) in a showdown for first place in the PSAC West. The Golden Knights and Lakers were chosen co-favorites in the Western Division in the coaches' preseason poll. Mercyhurst is currently ranked eighth in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25. The match gets underway at 3:00 p.m. at McConnell Family Stadium.
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Bek Nurlanbek

#10 Bek Nurlanbek

M
5' 10"
Senior
Sport Management
Layton Bingham

#29 Layton Bingham

D
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
International Management
Bautista Corti

#5 Bautista Corti

D
6' 2"
Sophomore
Lennox Crews

#22 Lennox Crews

D
5' 10"
Senior
Sergio Del Castillo

#10 Sergio Del Castillo

M
5' 11"
Senior
Conner Golley

#42 Conner Golley

GK
6' 0"
Senior
Toby Gower

#8 Toby Gower

M
5' 9"
Senior
Tinashe Katsande

#7 Tinashe Katsande

M/F
6' 2"
Senior
Joe Knox

#9 Joe Knox

M/F
6' 1"
Graduate Student
International Management
Georgios Koutroulis

#12 Georgios Koutroulis

GK
5' 10"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Bek Nurlanbek

#10 Bek Nurlanbek

5' 10"
Senior
Sport Management
M
Layton Bingham

#29 Layton Bingham

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
International Management
D
Bautista Corti

#5 Bautista Corti

6' 2"
Sophomore
D
Lennox Crews

#22 Lennox Crews

5' 10"
Senior
D
Sergio Del Castillo

#10 Sergio Del Castillo

5' 11"
Senior
M
Conner Golley

#42 Conner Golley

6' 0"
Senior
GK
Toby Gower

#8 Toby Gower

5' 9"
Senior
M
Tinashe Katsande

#7 Tinashe Katsande

6' 2"
Senior
M/F
Joe Knox

#9 Joe Knox

6' 1"
Graduate Student
International Management
M/F
Georgios Koutroulis

#12 Georgios Koutroulis

5' 10"
Senior
GK