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

No. 18 Gannon Faces Stern Test at Ashland

No. 18 GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (2-0-0, 0-0-0 PSAC West) at ASHLAND EAGLES (0-0-1, 0-0-0 GMAC)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, August 31, 2022 | 6:30 p.m.
STADIUM/LOCATION: Ferguson Field Field l Ashland, Ohio
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THE GANNON-ASHLAND SERIES
Gannon leads 12-8-3
 
Last Meeting:  Sept. 10, 2021 – Gannon 2, Ashland 1 l RECAP
In a series that first began in 1971, the Golden Knights have won the last two meetings, in 2018 and 2021, by identical 2-1 scores. A year ago, Gannon jumped out to a 2-1 lead on first-half goals by Bek Nurlanbek (Almaty, Kazakhstan/Loughborough College) and Tinashe Katsande (Norwich, England/Dereham Sixth Form College). Ashland scored its lone goal with just under six minutes remaining but 12th-ranked Gannon held off the upset-minded Eagles.   
 
 
ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon University men's soccer team concludes its three-game road trip to start the 2022 campaign with a match at Ashland on Wednesday, August 31. The Golden Knights come in with a 2-0-0 record after posting a 3-2 win at Georgian Court and a 4-1 triumph at Goldey-Beacom on Sunday.
 
Ashland debuted on Saturday with a 1-1 tie at Millersville, a team that is ranked sixth in the United Soccer Coaches Division II Preseason Poll and is the PSAC East preseason favorite. Now the Eagles play their next two matches against the preseason co-favorites in the Western Division. Following Wednesday's game against No. 18 Gannon, the Eagles play at Mercyhurst on Saturday, September 3.
 
Golden Knights Highly-Regarded Entering 2022
Gannon enters the 2022 campaign with high expectations after posting a 16-3-3 overall record and finishing at 7-1-2 in the PSAC West. The Golden Knights reached the PSAC Championship game and finished as the runner-up, then tied Millersville 2-2 in double overtime in the second round of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional. The Marauders moved on after prevailing on penalty shots 4-3. After finishing 18th in the final United Soccer Coaches Top 25, Gannon begins the year ranked 18th in the preseason poll. In addition, Colton's crew was tied with Mercyhurst for first place in the PSAC West preseason poll. Gannon is in search of its third straight NCAA Tournament bid.
 
All-American Del Castillo Paces Strong Group of Returnees
Senior midfielder Sergio Del Castillo (Madrid, Spain) earned plenty of postseason accolades, culminated by a spot on the United Soccer Coaches All-American Third Team. The native of Spain led the team in goals (12) and points (29). He is off to a fast start with a goal in each of the first two contests. Del Castillo is one of four returning Golden Knights to earn All-PSAC West accolades.
Sophomore defender Bautista Corti was named the 2021 PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Year along with earning first-team all-conference honors as a freshman.
Midfielder/forward Joe Knox 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.
Senior forward/midfielder Tinashe Katsande finished with 10 goals and two assists for 22 points, good for second on the team. The native of England picked up an assist against Georgian Court and scored a goal vs. Goldey-Beacom.
Freshman midfielder Sverre Orten (Orsta, Norway), who hails from Norway, has contributed a goal and two assists in Gannon's opening two contests.
David Synstelien (Gjovik, Norway/Gjovik Vinderegaende), another Norwegian, has been in goal the first two games, registering six saves with a 1.50 GAA.
 
Scouting Ashland
Ashland finished the 2021 season at 5-8-4 overall and 5-6-3 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. The new-look Eagles have just 21 total starts returning from 2021, led by sophomore goalkeeper Ty Bowden, who started seven games late in the season and went 3-3-1 with a 1.38 goals-against average. Bowden had six saves against Millersville as the Marauders held a 13-8 advantage in shots. Forward Haruki Kimura gave Ashland an early 1-0 lead with a goal in the 23rd minute, but Millersville tied the game less than two minutes later and neither team scored after that. Ashland was recently picked to finish fifth out of 11 teams in the GMAC Preseason Poll.
 
Next for the Golden Knights
After three straight road games Gannon plays at home on Sunday, September 4 hosting Wilmington (Del.) at McConnell Family Stadium at 12 noon.
 
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Players Mentioned

Bek Nurlanbek

#10 Bek Nurlanbek

M
5' 10"
Senior
Sport Management
Sergio Del Castillo

#10 Sergio Del Castillo

M
5' 11"
Senior
Toby Gower

#8 Toby Gower

M
5' 9"
Senior
Tinashe Katsande

#7 Tinashe Katsande

M/F
6' 2"
Senior
Sverre Orten

#23 Sverre Orten

M
5' 8"
Freshman
Business Administration 

Players Mentioned

Bek Nurlanbek

#10 Bek Nurlanbek

5' 10"
Senior
Sport Management
M
Sergio Del Castillo

#10 Sergio Del Castillo

5' 11"
Senior
M
Toby Gower

#8 Toby Gower

5' 9"
Senior
M
Tinashe Katsande

#7 Tinashe Katsande

6' 2"
Senior
M/F
Sverre Orten

#23 Sverre Orten

5' 8"
Freshman
Business Administration 
M