2024 Gannon men's soccer team photo

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

PSAC Tournament Preview: Golden Knights Face West Chester in PSAC Semifinals

1W GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (13-2-3, 7-0-3 PSAC West) vs. 3E WEST CHESTER GOLDEN RAMS (8-6-4, 5-4-1 PSAC East)
PSAC SEMIFINALS
DATE/TIME: Friday, November 15, 2024 | 3:00 p.m.
STADIUM/LOCATION: Steph Pettit Stadium l Bloomsburg, Pa.
LIVE STATS
LIVE VIDEO
PSAC TOURNAMENT PAGE
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
 
ADMISSION
(CARD ONLY - HUDL Ticketing)
Adults $10
Non-PSAC Students with ID  $5
Students with ID of PSAC Institution  Free
Children under the age of 2 shall be admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult.
 
 
THE PSAC MEN'S SOCCER TOURNAMENT
QUARTERFINALS
Monday, November 11, 2024
3E West Chester 1, 2E Millersville 1 (WCU advances on penalty kicks 5-4)
2W Slippery Rock 1, 3W Seton Hill 0
SEMIFINALS
Friday, November 15, 2024 (hosted by Bloomsburg)
2W Slippery Rock (9-4-4) at 1E Bloomsburg (14-3-1) – 12 noon
3E West Chester (8-6-4) vs. 1W Gannon (13-2-3) – 3:00 p.m.

FINALS
Sunday, November 17, 2024 (hosted by Bloomsburg)
Championship game, 1 p.m.
 

THE GANNON-WEST CHESTER SERIES
Tied at 6-6-1
In a series that first began in 2008, West Chester took the lead in the series with a 2-1 win over the Golden Knights in the semifinals of last year's PSAC Tournament. It marked the second time the two teams met in the PSAC Tournament Gannon won 2-1 in overtime in 2019. But Gannon captured a 2-0 win at WCU on October 12 to knot the series once again.

Last Meeting: Oct. 12, 2024 – Gannon 2, West Chester 0 | RECAP
Gannon traveled to southeastern Pennsylvania and came away with big road win. Bautista Corti (Manuel Alberti, Argentina/Adultos 2000) opened the scoring on a corner kick for a 1-0 lead 17:40 into the match. Shota Toyama (Kanagawa, Japan/Tama) and Pau Ferrer (Valencia, Spain/ISES Isabel de Villena) were credited with assists. Gannon's lead grew to 2-0 in the 31st minute courtesy of Rafa Hyde (São José dos Campos, Brazil). Hyde scored off a feed from James Pool (Hastings, England/Claverham).
 
 
ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon men's soccer team will have a second chance to do something it was unable to do a year ago – beat West Chester in the PSAC semifinals. The two teams will square off at Bloomsburg's Steph Pettit Stadium on Friday, November 15 at 3:00 p.m. with a berth in Sunday's PSAC Championship game on the line.

A year ago Gannon came in as the number one seed out of the Western Division and was hosting the Final Four. But West Chester upset the Golden Knights to deny Gannon an opportunity to win its first PSAC championship. The Golden Knights have reached the PSAC title game in 2017, 2019 and 2021 but have yet to wear the crown. They are in the semifinals for the fifth straight year.

Gannon has enjoyed another outstanding campaign, once again winning the PSAC West regular season title while posting a 13-2-3 record. The Golden Knights feature an explosive attack with 64 goals while a stingy defense has allowed just 14 goals. The Golden Knights are ranked 18th in the United Soccer Coaches Division II Top 25 and fourth in the latest NCAA Super Region 1 rankings.

West Chester entered the PSAC Tournament as the number three seed but on Monday upset number two seed Millersville. The two teams actually tied at 1-1 but WCU advanced on penalty kicks 5-4. Gannon and West Chester met on October 12 at West Chester, with Gannon coming away with a 2-0 victory.

On Wednesday the PSAC announced its 2024 All-PSAC Teams. Head coach Billy Colton was named the PSAC West Coach of the Year for the second straight year and third time overall. In addition, Sverre Orten (Orsta, Norway/Aalesund vgs) was selected the Offensive Athlete of the Year and Pau Ferrer (Valencia, Spain/ISES Isabel de Villena) repeated as the Defensive Athlete of the Year.

Orten and Ferrer were joined as first team All-PSAC West honorees by Herman Aanberg (Hamar, Norway/Wang Toppidrett Oslo), Bautista Corti (Manuel Alberti, Argentina/Adultos 2000), Andre Moraes (Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil/Colegio Singular), James Pool (Hastings, England/Claverham), and Alander Soares (Caxias do Sul, Brazil/Escola Estadual de Ensino Medio Santa Catarina).

Gannon has reached the PSAC semifinals for the fourth straight year and has been to the PSAC Championship game three times. But the Golden Knights have never won the PSAC championship. He's hoping that by Sunday about 3 p.m. that will have changed.
 
SCOUTING THE PSAC FINAL FOUR FIELD
 
1W Gannon Golden Knights (13-2-3, 7-0-3 PSAC West)
Head Coach: Billy Colton (81-18-10, 6th season) 
Leading Scorers: Sverre Orten (Orsta, Norway/Aalesund vgs) (9G-11A-29 pts); Alander Soares (Caxias do Sul, Brazil/Escola Estadual de Ensino Medio Santa Catarina) (11G-3A-25 pts); Per Kristian Lauvstad (Nesoya, Norway) (10G-3A-23 pts); Rafa Hyde (São José dos Campos, Brazil) (9G-4A-22 pts); James Pool (Hastings, England/Claverham) (4G-10A-18 pts); Herman Aanberg (Hamar, Norway/Wang Toppidrett Oslo) (2G-12A-16 pts)  
Goalkeeper: Andre Moraes (Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil/Colegio Singular) (12-2-3, 0.82 GAA, .754 save pct, 8 SHO)
All-PSAC Players: Billy Colton (PSAC West Coach of the Year); Sverre Orten (Orsta, Norway/Aalesund vgs) (PSAC West Athlete of the Year, 1st Team); Pau Ferrer (Valencia, Spain/ISES Isabel de Villena) (PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Year, 1st Team); Andre Moraes (Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil/Colegio Singular) (1st Team); Bautista Corti (Manuel Alberti, Argentina/Adultos 2000) (1st Team); James Pool (Hastings, England/Claverham) (1st Team); Alander Soares (Caxias do Sul, Brazil/Escola Estadual de Ensino Medio Santa Catarina) (1st Team); Herman Aanberg (Hamar, Norway/Wang Toppidrett Oslo) (1st Team)
Fast Facts: A year ago Gannon swept the PSAC West postseason awards and on Wednesday it was announced that the Golden Knights were awarded three of the four major awards … the Golden Knights have not lost since September 17 to Adelphi by a 3-1 score. Since that time they are 10-0-3 … after scoring a school record 73 goals last year the Golden Knights lead Division II in goals with 64. That is 10 more than the next closest team.
 
1E Bloomsburg Huskies (14-3-1, 7-2-1 PSAC East)
Head Coach: Mark Bassett (48-21-7, 4th season)
Leading Scorers: Patrick Walsh (7G-14 pts); Kody Besser (4G-5A-13 pts); Alex Wilsterman (4G-3A-11 pts) 
Goalkeeper: Brady Rimple (13-3-1, 0.72 GAA, .778 save pct, 9 SHO)
Fast Facts: Bloomsburg finished as the top seed in the Eastern Division … Mark Bassett was named the PSAC East Coach of the Year while Patrick Walsh was chosen the Defensive Player of the Year … the Huskies had an 11-match winning streak snapped in their last game on Nov. 8 losing to Millersville 3-0. Prior to that they had recorded seven straight shutouts … opponents have scored just 12 goals this year.
 
3W Slippery Rock The Rock (9-4-4, 5-2-3 PSAC West)
Head Coach: Kevin Wilhelm (39-52-16, 7th season)
Leading Scorers: Arturo Pla Hernandis (7G-14 pts); Altor Jorde (5G-4A-14 pts)
Goalkeeper: Adam Davies (9-4-4, 1.41 GAA, .688 save pct, 3 SHO)
Fast Facts: In 2019 head coach Kevin Wilhelm guided SRU to its first appearance in the PSAC Tournament since 2015. Now thanks to a 1-0 win over Seton Hill Slippery Rock has reached the semifinals in 2024 … after getting off to a 2-3-3 start SRU has gone 7-1-1 over its last nine matches. That lone loss was a 3-1 setback to Gannon on October 23.  
 
3E West Chester Golden Rams (8-6-4, 5-4-1 PSAC East)
Head Coach: Michael Benn (124-57-30, 12th season)
Leading Scorers: Peter Tichy (5G-5A-15 pts); Maksym Komperda (5G-1A-11 pts); Owen Slack (5G-1A-11 pts)
Goalkeeper: Jaden Howard (6-5-3, 0.98 GAA, .816 save pct, 6 SHO)
All-PSAC Players: Andrew Markopoulos (1st Team); Owen Slack (1st Team); Daniel Good (1st Team); Ian Alicea (2nd Team)
Fast Facts: For the third consecutive season West Chester saw its PSAC Quarterfinal end as a draw, battling to a 1-1 tie against Millersville. The Golden Rams advanced after defeating Millersville on PKs 5-4 … redshirt sophomore forward Peter Tichy was voted the PSAC East Athlete of the Year.
 
GANNON IN THE PSAC TOURNAMENT
2023
Semifinals – West Chester 2, at Gannon 1
2022
Quarterfinals – at Gannon 4, Seton Hill 3
Semifinals – at Bloomsburg 3, Gannon 2
2021
Quarterfinals – at Gannon 2, Seton Hill 1
Semifinals – Gannon 1, Lock Haven 0 (at Mercyhurst)
Finals – Millersville 2, Gannon 0 (at Mercyhurst)
2019
Semifinals – Gannon 2, West Chester 1 ot (at Millersville)
Finals – at Millersville 1, Gannon 0
2018
Quarterfinals – Seton Hill 1, at Gannon 1 ot (Seton Hill advances on penalty kicks)
2017
Semifinals – Gannon 2, Millersville 0 (at West Chester)
Finals – East Stroudsburg 1, Gannon 0 (at West Chester)
2016
Quarterfinals – Millersville 2, at Gannon 0
2012
Quarterfinals – Slippery Rock 2, at Gannon 1 2ot
 
Gannon Ranked Fourth in Super Region 1 Poll
The second set of regional rankings were released by the NCAA on Wednesday. Gannon holds down the fourth spot in the Super Region 1 rankings. The top ten teams in the poll qualify for the upcoming NCAA Division II Tournament. Gannon is in search of its fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament under head coach Billy Colton. The Super Region 1 field will be made up of 10 teams, with champions from the PSAC, CACC, ECC, MEC and NE-10 receiving automatic bids along with five at-large teams. The NCAA Division II Tournament field will be announced at on Monday, November 18.

NCAA Super Region 1 Rankings
1. Charleston (WV)                                      
2. Southern New Hampshire                                           
3. Franklin Pierce                                                    
4. GANNON                                     
5. Bloomsburg                                                        
6. Felician                                                     
7. Post                                                
8. Concord                                                   
9. New Haven                                              
10. Mercy


 
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Players Mentioned

Herman Aanberg

#10 Herman Aanberg

M
5' 10"
Junior
Bautista Corti

#5 Bautista Corti

D
6' 2"
Junior
Pau Ferrer

#4 Pau Ferrer

D
5' 9"
Redshirt Sophomore
Computer Science
James Pool

#6 James Pool

M
5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
Rafa Hyde

#9 Rafa Hyde

F
6' 1"
Sophomore
Sverre Orten

#8 Sverre Orten

MF
5' 9"
Junior
Business Administration 
Shota Toyama

#17 Shota Toyama

MF
5' 9"
Junior
Business
Herman Aanberg

#10 Herman Aanberg

MF
5' 10"
Senior
Bautista Corti

#5 Bautista Corti

D
6' 2"
Senior
Pau Ferrer

#4 Pau Ferrer

D
5' 9"
Redshirt Junior
Computer Science

Players Mentioned

Herman Aanberg

#10 Herman Aanberg

5' 10"
Junior
M
Bautista Corti

#5 Bautista Corti

6' 2"
Junior
D
Pau Ferrer

#4 Pau Ferrer

5' 9"
Redshirt Sophomore
Computer Science
D
James Pool

#6 James Pool

5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
M
Rafa Hyde

#9 Rafa Hyde

6' 1"
Sophomore
F
Sverre Orten

#8 Sverre Orten

5' 9"
Junior
Business Administration 
MF
Shota Toyama

#17 Shota Toyama

5' 9"
Junior
Business
MF
Herman Aanberg

#10 Herman Aanberg

5' 10"
Senior
MF
Bautista Corti

#5 Bautista Corti

6' 2"
Senior
D
Pau Ferrer

#4 Pau Ferrer

5' 9"
Redshirt Junior
Computer Science
D