ERIE, Pa. – While summer-like conditions have prevailed in northwest Pennsylvania recently the calendar says October is upon us. However, the weather isn't the only thing hot along the shores of Lake Erie.

Gannon's athletic teams continue to excel but the first week of October brings with it many challenges. After finally playing at home the volleyball team faces a huge weekend set against NCAA tournament teams Indiana (Pa.) and Pitt-Johnstown. October dawns with a soccer doubleheader on Wednesday that finds the men's and women's teams facing the teams expected to present severe challenges to their dominance on the pitch.

Saturday brings a tripleheader of Golden Knights action. The day gets underway with the football team hosting 14th-ranked Slippery Rock at noon. At 2 p.m. is the aforementioned volleyball match vs. UPJ and the day concludes with the women's soccer team facing an Indiana (Pa.) team that is 5-1-1.

Below is the schedule for the week ahead, along with a quick preview of each team.

THIS WEEK IN GANNON ATHLETICS

Football (0-4)
Saturday, Oct. 4 vs. No. 14/16 Slippery Rock – 12 noon - Video | Livestats  

• A Gannon team that had faced a very strong schedule over the first four weeks received a much-needed bye last weekend. Now the Golden Knights return to action to face yet another powerful outfit, hosting Slippery Rock. In a battle of top-ten teams The Rock, ranked fourth at the time, slugged it out with No. 8 California (Pa.) last Saturday night, rallying from a 35-14 deficit only to lose in the final minute 45-38. 
• Head coach Erik Raeburn's Golden Knights come in at 0-4 and face their third 2024 NCAA Playoff team. In addition to having some time to get healthy Gannon spent the bye week looking to shore up the defense along with refining an offense that has looked much improved from a year ago behind quarterbacks Anthony Harris (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) and Ty Hurst (Tallmadge, Ohio/Tallmadge).

Volleyball (9-4)
Friday, Oct. 3 vs. Indiana (Pa.) -- 7:00 p.m. - Video | Livestats 
Saturday, Oct. 4 vs. Pitt-Johnstown -- 2:00 p.m. - Video | Livestats 

• The Golden Knights are home for a pair of weekend matches for the second straight week after spending the first three weeks and 11 games on the road. Gannon hosts defending PSAC champion Indiana (Pa.) in a rematch of last year's championship match on Friday night before a match vs. Pitt-Johnstown less than 24 hours later on Saturday. Both teams were NCAA Atlantic Regional participants last year and are currently 10-3.        
• Gannon made a triumphant return to the Highmark Events Center on Friday night with a 3-0 win over Shepherd on Friday night. It not only marked the first time the Golden Knights had played on their homecourt since December 1, 2023 but was the 1,000th win for the Gannon program. Prior to the match head coach Matt Darling presented the members of the 2024 Atlantic Region championship team their championship rings. 
• Darling's squad improved to 9-4 on Sunday opening up PSAC West action with a 3-0 win over Edinboro. The Golden Knights are off to the fast start while featuring three freshmen in the lineup.

No. 7 Women's Soccer (7-0-0)
Wednesday, Oct. 1 vs. Slippery Rock – 6:00 p.m. - Video | Livestats 
Saturday, Oct. 4 vs. Indiana (Pa.) – 6:00 p.m. - Video | Livestats 

• After dominating the competition early in the year this past week saw the Golden Knights continue to win while having to work a bit harder to walk off the field victorious. Gannon edged Edinboro 2-1 earlier in the week and on Saturday scored twice in the second half to break another 1-1 halftime tie and win 3-1 at Pitt-Johnstown. Brooklyn Respecki (McKean, Pa./General McLane) had a pair of goals and an assist in the two victories. Her reward was the PSAC West Offensive Player of the Week award.
• Gannon figures to receive a pair of severe challenges this week while looking to remain undefeated. The preseason favorite in the PSAC West, the Golden Knights host Slippery Rock and Indiana (Pa.). SRU, picked to finish second in the division, comes in riding a four-game winning streak to improve to 4-2 while IUP is 5-1-1. The lone loss – to Slippery Rock. IUP was third in the preseason poll.

Men's Soccer (2-2-2)
Wednesday, Oct. 1 vs. Seton Hill – 3:00 p.m. - Video | Livestats
Saturday, Oct. 4 at Pitt-Johnstown – 12 noon - Video | Livestats

• Gannon's first six games have featured plenty of long trips against strong competition. The end result has been a 2-2-2 ledger following a 2-1 loss at Adelphi this past week. The match was tied at 1-1 at the half before the Panthers scored the game-winner ten minutes into the second half.
• The second season begins for head coach Billy Colton's Golden Knights this week. Ten of the final eleven games are against PSAC West opponents, with the conference season getting underway on Wednesday. Gannon begins defense of its Western Division title hosting Seton Hill, picked to finish second in the division in the preseason poll. The Golden Knights are 17-0-4 over their last 21 regular season matches against divisional foes. Two of those ties were a year ago to the Griffins.
• The week concludes with a Saturday match at Pitt-Johnstown.           

Men's Golf
Monday, Sept. 29 to Tuesday, Sept. 30 at Sunnehanna Collegiate hosted by Pitt-Johnstown -- Livestats  

• The men's golf team continued its strong start with a tie for fourth in the UIndy Fall Invitational last week. That came after a first-place finish in the UC Invitational followed by a second-place showing out of 19 teams at the Midwest/Central Regional Preview. The latter tournament featured some of the top teams in the two regions.
• Mattia Parrini (Verolengo, Italy/Verolengo) was Gannon's top finisher at the UIndy Fall Invitational with a 4-under par total of 212 for the 54-hole event. That was good for a tie for 16th. Rasmus Seppanen (Bastad, Sweden/Akademi Bastad Gymnasium) was also under par at 3-under 213 and finished in a tie for 18th place.     
• Head coach Scott Stano's squad returns to action on Monday and Tuesday this week and will see many of their PSAC foes while teeing it up in the Sunnehanna Collegiate. Hosted by Pitt-Johnstown, the 54-hole tournament will also be the site of the Atlantic/East Regional in the spring.     

Women's Golf
Monday, Sept. 29 at Gilda's Club Laker Fall Invitational hosted by Grand Valley State -- Livestats

• The Gannon linksters wrap up a busy three days on Monday playing 36-holes in the Gilda's Club Laker Fall Invitational hosted by Grand Valley State before being able to catch their breaths.
• The Golden Knights took fourth place out of 13 teams on Saturday and Sunday while competing in the Bulldog Fall Classic hosted by Ferris State. Cloe Mateo (Sabadell, Spain/Montcau la Mola) was the top finisher for the Golden Knights posting a 5-over total of 149 to finish in a tie for fifth. Alexandria LeCureux (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston) came in ninth at 8-over 152. The sophomore fired a 2-under 70 on the opening day.     

Cross Country
Friday, Oct. 3 at Paul Short Run hosted by Lehigh

• The men's and women's cross country teams enjoyed a week off from competition. That didn't mean head coach Rob Ahrens didn't have his runners put in plenty of miles and training with three races to go before the PSAC Championships later this month.  
• The Gannon harriers return to action this weekend in what should be their most competitive race leading up to the postseason races. The Golden Knights head to eastern Pennsylvania to compete in the Paul Short Run hosted by Lehigh on Friday, October 3. The race annually attracts a large field of teams from all divisions.  

Men's Water Polo (6-6)
Does not compete this week before beginning WWPA competition in the WWPA Bearcat Clash hosted by McKendree on October 11-12.

• Gannon evened its record at 6-6 with three wins over the weekend while hosting the Erie Invitational. The high-scoring Golden Knights found the back of the net on 72 occasions while posting wins over Washington & Jefferson (22-7), Penn State Behrend (24-14) and Mercyhurst (26-14).     
• Alexandros Kotskar (Voula, Greece/Athinaiki Agogh) continued his stellar play with 18 goals in the three matches. In the process the senior from Greece broke the school record for career points and now has 371 career points. He also moved to within six goals of the career record for goals. His total currently stands at 281.  
• The Golden Knights will next play four times in Illinois while competing in the WWPA Bearcat Clash. They'll face Salem, McKendree, Augustana (Ill.) and Ottawa on Saturday, October 11 and Saturday, October 12.