ERIE, Pa. – Logan Nicklas (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton) led a furious second-half rally, but the Gannon women's soccer team was unable to complete the comeback in a 4-2 loss to rival Mercyhurst on Saturday night at McConnell Family Stadium.

The game was a showdown between two of the preseason favorites in the PSAC West.  Gannon was picked first in the nine-team Western Division in the preseason poll, and Mercyhurst was selected third.

The Golden Knights slipped to 2-2-1 overall and 2-1-0 in the PSAC West. Mercyhurst moved into first place in the PSAC West with a 4-0 record, along with a 5-1 overall mark.

Karah Van Horn had three goals – all off assists from Corinne Morgan – as Mercyhurst took a 3-0 lead. Just 12 minutes into the second half, Madison Hoover scored to give the Lakers a commanding 4-0 lead.

However, the Golden Knights and Nicklas didn't give up. Nicklas scored at the 70:17 mark when she hustled after a loose ball and struck a shot between a Mercyhurst defender and the goalie.

 

What a game for Logan Nicklas (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton) tonight, even if the Gannon women's soccer team didn't come out on top on the scoreboard. Here are the senior forward's two second-half goals that she scored with pure grit and hustle.@GannonU pic.twitter.com/4N4yuQ9oNA

— Gannon Athletics (@GUKnights) September 17, 2023

After a Gannon player received a second yellow card and took a red card, the Knights played the final 19 minutes with only 10 players on the field.

Still, Nicklas, a senior forward, struck again when she hustled after a loose ball, cut around the goalie and hit the back of the net again at the 80:32 mark. Nicklas matched her career total after having two career goals coming into the game.

Gannon outshot Mercyhurst 24-9 and had nine shots on goal to the Lakers' six. However, Mercyhurst proved to be more opportunistic with its scoring chances.

Gannon will travel to Clarion on Wednesday before hosting California (Pa.) on Homecoming day on Sept. 23.