CALIFORNIA, Pa. – The Gannon men's soccer team wanted to avoid a letdown on the road on Saturday after an intense, emotional victory over archrival Mercyhurst earlier in the week.

There was no letdown this time as the No. 19-ranked Golden Knights rolled to a three-goal halftime lead and stayed unbeaten with a 5-0 victory over California (Pa.) at Phillipsburg Soccer Facility.

Tinashe Katsande (Norwich, England/Dereham Sixth Form College), Pau Ferrer (Valencia, Spain/ISES Isabel de Villena) and James Pool (Hastings, England/Claverham) scored the first-half goals in a span of about eight minutes for Gannon. Pool and Samuel Burton (Vantaa, Finland/Makelanrinteen Lukio) added second-half goals as the Knights claimed the clean sheet.

The game capped an explosive offensive week for the Knights, who scored 10 goals in two games after beating archrival 5-1 on Wednesday night.

The Golden Knights improved to 8-0-1 overall and took over sole possession of first place in the PSAC West with a 2-0-0 record. Each of the five other Western Division teams have at least one loss through two games. California dropped to 3-5-1 and 1-1-0.

Katsande opened the scoring with a goal that was set up by impressive passing. Rafa Hyde fed Ferrer, who then played a pass across the box to a waiting Katsande. He tapped it home for his fifth goal. Hyde and Ferrer were credited with assists on the play. For Ferrer, it was his team-leading eighth assist.

Less than three minutes later, Ferrer scored his second goal of the season off an assist from Herman Aanberg (Hamar, Norway/Wang Toppidrett Oslo).

About five minutes after that, Pool struck for his team-leading sixth goal off an assist from Hyde. His shot ricocheted off the post and into the net.

Pool added his seventh goal of the season with just under 10 minutes remaining in the game before Burton closed the offensive onslaught with 7:25 remaining. Katsande assisted on both of those goals.

The offensive stars were numerous for Gannon. Pool led with two goals, Katsande had a goal and two assists, Ferrer had a goal and an assist and Hyde had two assists.

GU outshot Cal 12-7, including 8-5 in shots on goal.

Gannon will prepare to host Lock Haven on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at McConnell Family Stadium.