General | 11/2/2026 11:00:00 AM

ERIE, Pa. – Championship season continues for Gannon Athletics as both soccer programs enter the PSAC Tournament, while the Golden Knights also prepare for conference championships in cross country and the opening weekend of the 2026-27 basketball seasons.

Gannon men's soccer advanced to the PSAC semifinals on Sunday with a 2-1 victory over Shepherd at McConnell Family Stadium. Rafa Hyde (São José dos Campos, Brazil/Objetivo Aquarius) scored the game-winning goal in the 73rd minute for his team-leading 15th goal of the season as the PSAC West regular-season champion Golden Knights improved to 12-3-3.

The women's soccer team will begin its postseason run Tuesday after finishing the regular season at 13-2-3 overall and 12-2-2 in PSAC West play. Gannon earned the No. 2 seed in the Western Division and will host Shepherd in the quarterfinal round.

The previous week also featured another championship for Gannon Athletics as the women's golf team captured the PGA HOPE Collegiate team title in Columbus, Ohio. The Golden Knights erased a one-stroke deficit entering the final round and won by 12 shots. Cloe Mateo led Gannon with a tie for third individually.

Women's wrestling also opened its season with a strong showing at the ESU Open. No. 4 Bella Phillips (Bellingham, Wash./Squalicum High School) captured her second consecutive 180-pound championship with a perfect 4-0 record as the Golden Knights finished sixth among 27 teams and clubs.

Meanwhile, volleyball carries a five-match winning streak into the final weekend of the regular season, and Gannon's men's and women's basketball teams open their campaigns at a pair of national events.

Women's Soccer

Tuesday, Nov. 3 – vs. Shepherd – 6 p.m. – PSAC Quarterfinals
Friday, Nov. 6 – PSAC Semifinals – TBA, if advanced
Sunday, Nov. 8 – PSAC Championship – TBA, if advanced

Gannon begins postseason play Tuesday evening when the Golden Knights host Shepherd at McConnell Family Stadium in the PSAC Tournament quarterfinals.

The Golden Knights closed the regular season with a 2-1 comeback victory at Clarion on Oct. 28. Grace Emanuel (Erie, Pa./McDowell) erased a first-half deficit with her seventh goal of the season before Amelya Bretz (Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek) scored the game-winner in the 62nd minute.

Gannon finished the regular season at 13-2-3 overall and 12-2-2 in PSAC West play, securing the No. 2 seed in the Western Division. The Golden Knights have gone unbeaten in their last 15 matches after opening conference play with a pair of early losses.

Tuesday's winner will advance to Friday's PSAC semifinals, with the championship scheduled for Sunday.

Men's Soccer

Wednesday, Nov. 4 – vs. Seton Hill – 1 p.m. – PSAC Semifinals
Sunday, Nov. 8 – PSAC Championship – TBA, if advanced

The PSAC West regular-season champion Golden Knights continue their postseason run Wednesday afternoon when they host Seton Hill in the conference semifinals.

Gannon advanced with a 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Shepherd on Sunday. Per Kristian Lauvstad (Nesoya, Norway) opened the scoring with his ninth goal of the season before Shepherd tied the match early in the second half.

Rafa Hyde (São José dos Campos, Brazil/Objetivo Aquarius) delivered the deciding goal in the 73rd minute, scoring his team-leading 15th goal of the season. Gannon finished with a 19-11 advantage in shots and improved to 12-3-3 overall.

The Golden Knights and Seton Hill met twice during the regular season. The teams played to a 1-1 draw at McConnell Family Stadium before Gannon earned a 2-0 road victory on Oct. 24.

A win Wednesday would send Gannon to Sunday's PSAC Championship against the top remaining seed from the Eastern Division.

Women's Basketball

Friday, Nov. 6 – vs. Missouri Western – 5:15 p.m. – Owensboro, Ky.
Saturday, Nov. 7 – vs. Harding – 3 p.m. – Owensboro, Ky.

The No. 12 Gannon women's basketball team opens the 2026-27 season at the Division II CCA Tip-Off Classic hosted by Kentucky Wesleyan.

The Golden Knights are coming off a 29-5 season that included an 18-2 PSAC record, a berth in the PSAC Championship game and an appearance in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional semifinals.

Gannon was picked second in the PSAC West preseason poll and returns an experienced group led by Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester), Mia Slater (Canberra, Australia/Canberra Grammar School) and Jordan Popyk (Novi, Mich./Novi). Ratliff returns as Gannon's leading scorer from last season after averaging 12.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

The Golden Knights face Missouri Western on Friday before closing the opening weekend against Harding on Saturday.

Volleyball

Friday, Nov. 6 – at Pitt-Johnstown – 6 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 7 – at IUP – 6 p.m.

Gannon closes the regular season with a pair of PSAC West road matches while carrying a five-match winning streak into the weekend.

The Golden Knights improved to 20-4 overall and 10-2 in conference play following a 2-0 home weekend against Clarion and Slippery Rock.

Gannon rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Clarion in five sets before sweeping Slippery Rock 25-17, 25-18, 25-13 on Senior Day. Carissa Treser (Sewickley, Pa./North Allegheny) led the Golden Knights against Slippery Rock with a season-high 10 kills, while Gannon hit .381 as a team.

The Golden Knights have already secured a PSAC Tournament berth and will look to strengthen their postseason position during the final weekend of regular-season competition.

Women's Wrestling

Friday, Nov. 6 – at D'Youville – 6 p.m. – Buffalo, N.Y.

Gannon enters its first dual of the season after opening the 2026-27 campaign with a sixth-place finish at the ESU Open.

No. 4 Bella Phillips (Bellingham, Wash./Squalicum High School) highlighted the opener by capturing her second consecutive ESU Open championship at 180 pounds. Phillips went 4-0 and outscored her opponents 34-2.

Caroline Biegel (Ringwood, N.J./DePaul Catholic) added a fourth-place finish at 207 pounds, while freshman Sara Rantonen (Jyväskylä, Finland/Schildt Upper Secondary School) placed fifth at 131 pounds with a 4-2 record.

The Golden Knights now turn their attention to Friday's road dual against D'Youville.

Men's Water Polo

Friday, Nov. 6 – vs. Salem – 7 p.m. – WWPA Erie Classic
Saturday, Nov. 7 – vs. Mercyhurst – 10:45 a.m. – Senior Day
Sunday, Nov. 8 – vs. McKendree – 9:30 a.m.

Gannon hosts the WWPA Erie Classic this weekend at the Hallman Aquatics Center with three conference matchups in three days.

The Golden Knights improved to 9-9 overall with an 18-10 victory over Penn State Behrend on Saturday.

Nikiforos Liantziris (Athens, Greece/1o EPAL Zografou) led Gannon with four goals and an assist, while Rajmund Farsang (Eger, Hungary/Neumann Janos Gimnazium) produced three goals and four assists for a game-high seven points.

Gannon opens the weekend against Salem before facing crosstown rival Mercyhurst on Senior Day Saturday morning. The Golden Knights conclude the event Sunday against McKendree.

Men's Wrestling

Saturday, Nov. 7 – at Mount Union Invitational – All Day – Alliance, Ohio

Gannon begins outside competition Saturday at the Mount Union Invitational.

The Golden Knights opened the 2026-27 campaign with the annual Maroon and Gold Wrestle-Offs on Sunday at the Highmark Events Center.

Saturday's tournament provides Gannon with its first opportunity to compete against outside opponents before continuing its early-season tournament schedule at the Bob Del Rosa Open on Nov. 14.

Men's Cross Country

Saturday, Nov. 7 – PSAC Championships – TBA – Bloomsburg, Pa.

The Gannon men's cross country team begins postseason competition Saturday at the PSAC Championships hosted by Bloomsburg.

The Golden Knights last competed at the Go Fast River Run at Lock Haven, finishing 14th among 22 scoring teams.

Dane Hieronimus (Toledo, Ohio/Bedford Senior) led Gannon in the 325-runner field, placing 72nd with an 8K time of 25:39.4. Robert Tang (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) followed in 25:55.8, while Bradyn Rusch (Valley View, Ohio/Cuyahoga Heights) finished third among the Golden Knights in 26:06.1.

Saturday marks Gannon's first championship competition of the season before the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships later in November.

Women's Cross Country

Saturday, Nov. 7 – PSAC Championships – TBA – Bloomsburg, Pa.

The Gannon women will also compete for a conference championship Saturday in Bloomsburg.

Junior Alexis Abbett (Aspinwall, Pa./Aquinas Academy) led the Golden Knights at their most recent race, placing 26th among 276 runners at the Go Fast River Run with a 6K time of 22:13.2.

Josephine Holody () was Gannon's second finisher, followed by Anna Rakvic (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin) and Makayla McLister (Butler, Pa./Butler Area).

The Golden Knights finished 18th among 25 scoring teams at Lock Haven and will now turn their attention to the PSAC Championship field.

Football

Saturday, Nov. 7 – at California (Pa.) – Noon

Gannon plays its final road game of the season Saturday afternoon against California (Pa.).

The Golden Knights enter the matchup at 1-8 overall and 1-6 in PSAC West play following a narrow 17-14 setback against IUP.

Gannon led 14-7 entering the fourth quarter before IUP scored 10 unanswered points. Chazz Corley (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central) turned in a career performance with eight receptions for 167 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown from Ty Hurst (Tallmadge, Ohio/Tallmadge).

The Golden Knights finished with a 317-312 advantage in total offense and forced two turnovers in the loss. Gannon will look to rebound Saturday before returning home for its season finale.

Men's and Women's Swimming

Saturday, Nov. 7 – vs. Case Western Reserve – 1 p.m. – Carneval Athletic Pavilion Pool

Gannon swimming returns to the Carneval Athletic Pavilion Pool for its first home dual meet of the season against Case Western Reserve.

The men's team last competed at Clarion, where the Golden Knights outscored the Golden Eagles 113-92 in swimming events. Clarion officially won the dual after receiving 32 points from diving, an event in which Gannon does not compete.

Nikita Poparcea swept the 50 and 100 freestyle events, while Mert Ata Pehlivanoglu won the 200 freestyle and 200 butterfly.

On the women's side, Mariia Melnyk (Kyiv, Ukraine/Education Center Optima) won both the 200 and 100 freestyle events and anchored the winning 400 medley relay. Daniela Mišúthová (Bratislava, Slovakia/Bilingual Grammar School Ceska 10), Emma Dietz (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) and the 400 medley relay also earned victories.

Saturday's meet begins at 1 p.m.

Men's Basketball

Saturday, Nov. 7 – vs. No. 19 Central Missouri – 11 a.m. – Lakeland, Fla.
Sunday, Nov. 8 – vs. No. 11 Point Loma – 3:30 p.m. – Lakeland, Fla.

The defending NCAA Division II national champion Gannon men's basketball team begins its title defense with a pair of nationally ranked opponents at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic.

The Golden Knights enter the season ranked No. 3 nationally in the NABC preseason poll, the highest preseason ranking in program history, and were selected as the preseason favorite in the PSAC West.

Gannon returns several key contributors from last season's historic 34-3 national championship team, including Lucas Morgan (Sydney, Australia/Marist Catholic College North Shore) and Mackenzie Morgan (Sydney, Australia/Marist Catholic College North Shore). Lucas Morgan (Sydney, Australia/Marist Catholic College North Shore) averaged 13.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last season, while Mackenzie Morgan (Sydney, Australia/Marist Catholic College North Shore) averaged 10.0 points and earned NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team honors.

The Golden Knights face No. 19 Central Missouri on Saturday morning before meeting No. 11 Point Loma on Sunday afternoon. Both opponents advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season.