General | 10/26/2026 10:00:00 AM

ERIE, Pa. – Gannon Athletics enters the final week of October with postseason competition approaching, championship aspirations building and the start of the 2026-27 women's wrestling season highlighting another busy week for the Golden Knights. 

The Gannon men's soccer team headlined the weekend by securing the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West regular-season championship and the division's No. 1 seed with a 2-0 victory at Seton Hill on Saturday. The Golden Knights bounced back from their first conference loss to improve to 11-2-3 overall and 7-1-1 in conference play. 

Football also broke through for its first victory of the season with a 31-14 win at Edinboro, highlighted by Donell (Tank) Mason becoming Gannon's all-time leader in career receiving yards. Meanwhile, volleyball extended its winning streak to three matches and clinched a berth in the PSAC Tournament following a thrilling five-set victory at Seton Hill. 

The week begins with the men's and women's golf teams concluding their fall campaigns at the PGA HOPE Collegiate in Columbus, Ohio. Both soccer teams close out their regular seasons on the road, while volleyball returns home for two PSAC West matches, including Senior Day on Saturday. Football hosts Indiana (Pa.) for its Halloween Blackout game, and men's water polo faces crosstown opponent Penn State Behrend. 

The weekend also marks the beginning of the women's wrestling season, with the Golden Knights opening competition Sunday at the ESU Open. Gannon enters the season ranked No. 21 nationally in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) preseason poll, while the men's wrestling team is ranked No. 10 nationally with five individually ranked wrestlers heading into its 2026-27 campaign. 

Men's Golf 

Monday, Oct. 26 – PGA HOPE Collegiate – 10 a.m. – Columbus, Ohio 
Tuesday, Oct. 27 – PGA HOPE Collegiate – 9 a.m. – Columbus, Ohio 

The Gannon men's golf team closes out its fall campaign at the two-day PGA HOPE Collegiate hosted by Ohio Dominican in Columbus, Ohio. 

The Golden Knights return to the course for the first time since capturing the PSAC Championship at Iron Valley Golf Club. Gannon finished the three-round championship at 12-over-par 876 to claim the conference crown by nine strokes over West Chester. 

Rasmus Seppanen (Bastad, Sweden/Akademi Bastad Gymnasium) led the Golden Knights with a tie for third individually at 2-over, while Gannon used a balanced lineup to secure the team championship. 

The conference title continued a successful fall campaign that also featured a team championship at the Bud Elwell Fall Classic, where the Golden Knights finished at 1-under 575 to win by 13 strokes. 

Gannon will look to cap its championship-winning fall season with another strong showing in Columbus. 

Women's Golf 

Monday, Oct. 26 – PGA HOPE Collegiate – 10 a.m. – Columbus, Ohio 
Tuesday, Oct. 27 – PGA HOPE Collegiate – 9 a.m. – Columbus, Ohio 

The Gannon women's golf team wraps up its fall campaign alongside the men's team at the PGA HOPE Collegiate in Columbus, Ohio. 

The Golden Knights enter their final fall tournament following a strong October stretch highlighted by a convincing team championship at the Michael Corbett Fall Classic at Whispering Woods Golf Club. 

Cloe Mateo (Sabadell, Spain/Montcau la Mola) captured medalist honors with a two-round score of 147, while Alexandria LeCureux (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston) finished second and Cristina Carrasco (Barcelona, Spain/CEEDCV) tied for third. Gannon totaled 615 strokes to secure the team championship by 30 shots. 

Mateo also delivered an impressive performance earlier in the month at the William Beall Fall Classic, placing third among 96 competitors with a three-round total of 222. 

The Golden Knights will look to carry that momentum into their final tournament of the fall season. 

Women's Soccer 

Wednesday, Oct. 28 – at Clarion – 7 p.m. 

Gannon enters its regular-season finale at 12-2-3 overall and 11-2-2 in PSAC West play following a 3-1 Senior Day victory over Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday at McConnell Family Stadium. 

Brooklyn Respecki (McKean, Pa./General McLane) opened the scoring before Grace Emanuel (Erie, Pa./McDowell) delivered the eventual game-winning goal in the 78th minute. Senior Amelya Bretz (Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek) capped the afternoon with a goal in the 85th minute while making her first career start. 

Respecki finished with a goal and two assists, increasing her career total to 132 points and moving within five points of Gannon's career record of 137. 

The Golden Knights enter the final week in second place in the PSAC West standings with 35 points, trailing first-place Slippery Rock by three points. Gannon has already secured a postseason berth and will look to strengthen its position heading into the conference tournament. 

Gannon closes out the regular season Wednesday evening at Clarion, looking to avenge an earlier 2-1 loss to the Golden Eagles and carry momentum into the PSAC Tournament. 

Men's Soccer 

Thursday, Oct. 29 – at Lock Haven – 2 p.m. 
Sunday, Nov. 1 – PSAC Tournament – TBA 

The Golden Knights enter the final week of the regular season as PSAC West champions after clinching the division's No. 1 seed with a 2-0 road victory over Seton Hill on Saturday. 

Following a scoreless first half, Ryko Bodurov (Columbus, Ohio/Olentangy Berlin) broke through in the 56th minute with his fourth goal of the season. Rafa Hyde (São José dos Campos, Brazil/Objetivo Aquarius) doubled the advantage less than 10 minutes later, netting his team-leading 13th goal. 

Goalkeeper Ivan Capurro (Uruguay/Escola Ginebró) recorded six saves to preserve the shutout as Gannon improved to 11-2-3 overall and 7-1-1 in conference play. 

The victory secured the Golden Knights' position atop the division standings and continued another impressive season under head coach Billy Colton. 

With the PSAC West title secured, Gannon travels to Lock Haven on Thursday afternoon for its regular-season finale before shifting its focus to the PSAC Tournament. 

Volleyball 

Friday, Oct. 30 – vs. Clarion – 7 p.m. 
Saturday, Oct. 31 – vs. Slippery Rock – 2 p.m. – Senior Day 

Gannon returns to the Highmark Events Center riding a three-match winning streak after clinching a berth in the PSAC Tournament with a dramatic five-set victory at Seton Hill on Saturday. 

The Golden Knights improved to 18-4 overall and 8-2 in conference play after prevailing 23-25, 25-13, 26-24, 12-25, 20-18. The victory marked Gannon's third win in four five-set matches this season. 

Nehir Yazicioglu (Ankara, Turkey) delivered a career-high 20 kills, while Sydney Wake (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) added a season-high 17. Abbey Williams (Chicago, Ill./Mother Mcauley Liberal Arts) contributed 16 kills and 16 digs for her 12th double-double of the season, and Alexis Fowler (Cranberry Township, PA/Eden Christian Academy) anchored the defense with a season-high 28 digs. 

Gannon enters the week tied with Clarion for second place in the PSAC West, just a half-game behind first-place Indiana (Pa.). 

The Golden Knights welcome Clarion on Friday evening in a key divisional matchup before hosting Slippery Rock on Saturday afternoon for Senior Day. Gannon will honor its six seniors in a special ceremony following the conclusion of Saturday's match. 

Football 

Saturday, Oct. 31 – vs. Indiana (Pa.) – Noon – Halloween Blackout 

Gannon returns to McConnell Family Stadium with momentum after earning its first victory of the season, defeating Edinboro 31-14 on Saturday at Sox Harrison Stadium. 

The Golden Knights raced to a commanding 28-0 halftime advantage behind rushing touchdowns from NaSean Hill (Avenel, N.J./Delbarton), Ty Hurst (Tallmadge, Ohio/Tallmadge) and Nevaeh Elliott (Owings Mills, Md./Owings Mills), along with a 53-yard fumble return touchdown by Keoke Toomer (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis). 

The defensive score marked Toomer's second fumble return touchdown of the season, while Donell (Tank) Mason etched his name into the Gannon record book by becoming the program's all-time leader in career receiving yards. 

The victory was Gannon's first over Edinboro since a 25-21 triumph in 2024 and improved the Golden Knights to 1-7 overall and 1-5 in PSAC West action. 

Gannon will look to build on that performance Saturday when it hosts Indiana (Pa.) for its Halloween Blackout game. Kickoff is scheduled for noon. 

Men's Water Polo
Saturday, Oct. 31 – at Penn State Behrend – 10 a.m.

The Gannon men's water polo team returns to Erie after opening Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) competition at the West Virginia Showdown in Bridgeport, W.Va.

The Golden Knights began the conference weekend with a 20-17 setback against Salem. Nikiforos Liantziris (Athens, Greece/1o EPAL Zografou) paced the offense with five goals and two assists, while Giacomo Peretti (Verona, Italy/Liceo G. Fracastoro) contributed two goals and four assists. Gannon showed its resilience in the fourth quarter, scoring three unanswered goals to trim the deficit to 18-16 before Salem held on for the victory.

Liantziris followed with a season-high seven goals against McKendree, tying his career best previously set against Fresno Pacific on Nov. 22, 2024, during the WWPA Championships. The Golden Knights mounted another fourth-quarter comeback, outscoring the Bearcats 5-2 in the final period before falling 18-17.

Gannon bounced back Sunday with a 21-18 victory over Erie rival Mercyhurst to close out the tournament. Liantziris and Petar Markovic (Belgrade, Serbia/Sports High School of Belgrade) each scored five goals, while Liantziris added four assists for a game-high nine points. The victory improved the Golden Knights to 8-9 overall and 1-2 in WWPA action.

The Golden Knights now turn their attention to Penn State Behrend, an opponent they defeated 22-6 earlier this season.

Saturday's matchup will be Gannon's final contest before returning home for the WWPA Erie Classic, scheduled for Nov. 6-7. The home event will also feature Senior Day against Mercyhurst on Nov. 7.

Women's Wrestling 

Sunday, Nov. 1 – at ESU Open – All Day – East Stroudsburg, Pa. 

The Gannon women's wrestling team opens the 2026-27 season Sunday at the ESU Open, entering the campaign ranked No. 21 nationally in the NWCA Preseason NCAA Women's Tournament Top 25. 

Head coach Erin Vandiver's Golden Knights enter the new season following a historic 2025-26 campaign that included a 23rd-place finish at the inaugural NCAA Women's Wrestling Championships. 

Leading the way is returning All-American Bella Phillips (Bellingham, Wash./Squalicum High School), who enters the season ranked No. 2 in NCAA Super Region II at 180 pounds. 

Phillips made program history last season by becoming Gannon's first NCAA All-American in women's wrestling during the sport's inaugural year as an NCAA championship sport. She placed fifth at the NCAA Championships after compiling a 4-2 record, including a 7-2 victory over Lock Haven's Azariah Moore in the fifth-place match. 

The Bellingham, Wash., native enters the season third in program history with 70 career victories, just 31 shy of Lili Ujfalvi's (Kecskemet-heteny, Hungary/Bolyai Janos Secondary School) school record of 101. 

The upcoming season also marks a milestone for women's wrestling across the conference as the PSAC sponsors the sport for the first time in 2026-27. 

Gannon begins its season at the ESU Open before continuing its early-season schedule of tournaments and dual competitions.