James Pool
Mike Gallagher
0
California (PA) CALIF (3-5-4, 0-3-2)
6
Winner Gannon GANN (8-2-2, 2-0-2)
California (PA) CALIF
(3-5-4, 0-3-2)
0
Final
6
Gannon GANN
(8-2-2, 2-0-2)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
California (PA) CALIF 0 0 0
Gannon GANN 2 4 6

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

No. 13 Golden Knights Extend Winning Streak to Four Games with 6-0 Win over California (Pa.)

ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon men's soccer team turned a tight match into a runaway in the second half with a 6-0 win over California (Pa.) at McConnell Family Stadium. The 13th-ranked Golden Knights extended their winning streak to four straight games while improving to 8-2-2 overall and 2-0-2 in the PSAC West. Cal dropped to 3-5-4 and 0-3-2, respectively.
 
Cal came into the match having allowed just 11 goals all season, and for most of the first half held the high-scoring Gannon attack at bay. But the Golden Knights have proven all year they can score goals in bunches, and that was the case on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Following a scoreless 30 minutes Gannon scored twice in a span of five minutes to head into halftime with a 2-0 advantage. They came out on fire in the second half with two more goals within three minutes early in the half, then tacked on two more goals in the final 11 minutes, once again within the span of about five minutes.
 
The Cal match was the first of three games at home before the Golden Knights finish the regular season with four straight games on the road. Gannon will celebrate Senior Day on Saturday, October 19 when Pitt-Johnstown visits McConnell Family Stadium. Eight seniors will be recognized in pre-game festivities.  

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • The match was scoreless for 30 minutes before the Golden Knights broke through thanks to a goal by James Pool (Hastings, England/Claverham) at 30:36. His third goal was assisted by Sverre Orten (Orsta, Norway/Aalesund vgs), who had three assists on the afternoon. Orten's crossing pass was tipped by a Cal defender with Pool then directing the ball over the head of Cal goalkeeper Kierna Webb for his third goal of the season.
  • Less than five minutes later RJ Benedict (Edinboro, Pa./General McLane) found the back of the net for his fifth goal and fourth in the last four matches. The redshirt senior took beautiful touch passes from Orten and Pool and was open in front of the net to make it 2-0 at 35:01.
  • Gannon quickly added two more goals early in the second half. The first came from an unlikely source, with freshman defender Carl Dorner (Skødstrup, Sweden/) heading in a corner kick from Orten for his second goal of the season at 50:03.
  • Alander Soares (Caxias do Sul, Brazil/Escola Estadual de Ensino Medio Santa Catarina) made it 4-0 at 52:52 with his fifth goal of the year. Another freshman, Soares' goal came off passes from Pool and Herman Aanberg (Hamar, Norway/Wang Toppidrett Oslo).
  • The Golden Knights would add two more goals late in the match. Leading scorer Per Kristian Lauvstad (Nesoya, Norway/), the third freshman to score on the afternoon, deposited his seventh goal of the season into the back of the net after Webb blocked a pair of shots, with the second by Rafa Hyde (São José dos Campos, Brazil/) going to Lauvstad for the goal at 79:02.
  • Shota Toyama (Kanagawa, Japan/Tama) wrapped up the scoring with his fourth goal courtesy of a pass from Gabriel Delin (Stockholm, Sweden/Solna Gymansium). The sophomore headed in Delin's crossing pass.  
BY THE NUMBERS
  • Gannon ended with a wide 23-6 advantage in shots, including 15-1 in shots on goal. The Golden Knights also held a 5-1 edge in corner kicks.
  • James Pool (Hastings, England/Claverham) finished with a goal and two assists, while Sverre Orten (Orsta, Norway/Aalesund vgs) had eight assists. Herman Aanberg (Hamar, Norway/Wang Toppidrett Oslo) came in tied for the Division II lead in assists and added his 10th of the season.
  • Andres Moraes recorded his fifth shutout of the season while finishing with one save. California (Pa.)'s beleaguered goalie, Kierna Webb, had nine saves, several of the spectacular variety.
  • Gannon has now won the last eight matches against the Vulcans and 12 of the last 13. It's the fourth straight shutout.
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