Football | 9/7/2026 11:48:00 AM

ERIE, Pa. – Gannon Athletics heads into another busy week of fall competition after men's soccer, women's volleyball and men's water polo all picked up victories over the weekend, while the men's and women's cross country teams opened their seasons with a pair of third-place finishes.

With only one home event on the schedule this week, the Golden Knights will spend much of the week on the road. Women's soccer hosts Slippery Rock on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at McConnell Family Stadium in Gannon's lone home contest of the week, while the remainder of the schedule takes the Golden Knights away from Erie.

Gannon volleyball went a perfect 3-0 at the Gannon Invitational, earning victories over Malone, Wayne State and Eckerd. Abbey Williams (Chicago, Ill./Mother Mcauley Liberal Arts) and Ava Gainer (Wheeling, W.Va./The Linsly School) were named to the Gannon Invitational All-Tournament Team following the unbeaten weekend.

Men's soccer earned its second straight victory with a 2-1 road win at Ashland, moving head coach Billy Colton within one victory of 100 for his career. Men's water polo swept its two contests at the W&J Invitational with wins over Wheaton (Mass.) and Connecticut College, while the Gannon men's and women's cross country teams each placed third at the Doug Watts Open.

This week also marks the beginning of the fall season for the Gannon men's and women's golf teams, which compete Wednesday and Thursday at the UC Invitational in Charleston, W.Va.

Football
Saturday, Sept. 12 – Gannon at Shepherd – 12 p.m.

The Gannon football team returns to action on Saturday following a bye week when the Golden Knights travel to Shepherdstown, W.Va. to face PSAC East opponent Shepherd at 12 p.m.

Gannon opened the 2026 season with a 32-20 setback at Davenport on Aug. 29. Senior wide receiver Donell Mason (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis) highlighted the opener with eight receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown while becoming just the fourth player in program history to surpass 2,000 career receiving yards.

Mason enters Saturday's contest with 2,111 career receiving yards, ranking third in program history. Quarterback Ty Hurst (Tallmadge, Ohio/Tallmadge) accounted for all three Gannon touchdowns in the opener with two touchdown passes and a rushing score.

The Golden Knights look for their first victory of the season on Saturday against the Rams.

Men's Soccer

Tuesday, Sept. 8 – Gannon vs. Post – 12 p.m. (Lock Haven, Pa.)
Sunday, Sept. 13 – Gannon at Felician – 1 p.m.

Congratulations to the Gannon men's soccer team on picking up its second straight victory with a 2-1 road win over Ashland on Friday.

Manuel Pereyra (Puebla, Mexico/Maria Luisa Pacheco) scored the game-winning goal and added an assist, while Rafa Hyde (São José dos Campos, Brazil/Objetivo Aquarius) also finished with a goal and an assist. Anthony Di Gioia (Welland, Ont.) made three saves in goal as the Golden Knights improved to 2-1 on the season.

The victory moved head coach Billy Colton to 99 career wins, leaving him one victory shy of becoming just the third head coach in Gannon men's soccer history to reach 100 wins. Rob Russo, who coached from 1982-90, finished with a 133-35-12 record, while Rob van Rheenen posted a 175-138-15 record from 1997-2014. Colton would also tie Russo as the fastest coach in program history to reach 100 victories, with Russo earning career win No. 100 in his 138th match in 1988.

Gannon returns to action Tuesday against Post in a neutral-site contest in Lock Haven, Pa. beginning at 12 p.m. The Golden Knights then travel to Rutherford, N.J. on Sunday for a 1 p.m. contest at Felician.

Women's Soccer

Wednesday, Sept. 9 – Gannon vs. Slippery Rock – 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 12 – Gannon at California (Pa.) – 1 p.m.

The Gannon women's soccer team looks to bounce back this week following a pair of narrow 2-1 PSAC West setbacks against Clarion and IUP.

Aubrey Pyne (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg Area) totaled a goal and an assist over the two contests, while Bella Prince (Bradford,Pa./Bradford Area) also found the back of the net. Despite the two setbacks, the Golden Knights held a commanding 37-9 advantage in shots and a 14-4 edge in corner kicks over their opponents.

Gannon continues PSAC West play with two contests this week. The Golden Knights host Slippery Rock on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at McConnell Family Stadium in Gannon Athletics' lone home event of the week before traveling to California (Pa.) for a 1 p.m. contest on Saturday.

Volleyball

Thursday, Sept. 10 – Gannon at Wheeling – 6 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 11 – Gannon vs. West Virginia State – 11 a.m.
Saturday, Sept. 12 – Gannon at West Liberty – 12 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 12 – Gannon vs. Fairmont State – 3 p.m.

Congratulations to Gannon volleyball on completing a perfect 3-0 weekend at the Gannon Invitational with victories over Malone, Wayne State and Eckerd.

The Golden Knights opened the tournament with a 3-0 sweep of Malone before battling to a five-set victory over Wayne State on Friday night. Gannon completed the unbeaten weekend with a 3-1 victory over Eckerd on Saturday, handing an Eckerd squad that won each of its other three matches in straight sets its only loss of the weekend.

Abbey Williams (Chicago, Ill./Mother Mcauley Liberal Arts) and Ava Gainer (Wheeling, W.Va./The Linsly School) were named to the Gannon Invitational All-Tournament Team. Williams totaled 35 kills, 33 digs and six service aces over the three matches, while Gainer directed the offense with 134 assists, averaging 11.17 per set, while adding 37 digs and seven aces. Carlee Webber (Anamosa, IA/Marion) added 26 kills while hitting .467.

Gannon takes its three-match winning streak on the road this week for four matches against MEC competition. The Golden Knights face Wheeling on Thursday and West Virginia State on Friday in Wheeling, W.Va. before traveling to West Liberty on Saturday for matches against West Liberty and Fairmont State.

Men's Water Polo

Saturday, Sept. 12 – Gannon vs. Washington & Jefferson – 2:10 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 12 – Gannon vs. George Washington – 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 13 – Gannon vs. Fresno Pacific – 10:20 a.m.
Sunday, Sept. 13 – Gannon vs. Johns Hopkins – 2:20 p.m.

Congratulations to the Gannon men's water polo team on sweeping a pair of contests at the W&J Invitational on Saturday to improve to 3-3 on the season.

The Golden Knights opened the day with a 22-9 victory over Wheaton (Mass.). Nick Thompson (Hudsonville, Mich./Hudsonville) led the scoring with four goals, while Rajmund Farsang (Eger, Hungary/Neumann Janos Gimnazium), Callum Snider-Mills (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) and Dillon Shaw (Salt Lake City, Utah/Skyline) scored three apiece. Snider-Mills also recorded six steals, and Hewson Morphy (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) made 11 saves in goal.

Gannon followed with a dramatic 16-15 victory over Connecticut College. The Golden Knights trailed 11-9 entering the fourth quarter before erupting for seven goals in the final period. Mateja Zjacic (Belgrade, Serbia/High School of Electrical Engineering "Nikola Tesla") finished with four goals and two assists, including three goals during the fourth-quarter comeback. Dillon Shaw (Salt Lake City, Utah/Skyline) added two goals, three assists and three steals.

Gannon returns to tournament action this weekend at the Salem Invitational in Bridgeport, W.Va. The Golden Knights face Washington & Jefferson and George Washington on Saturday before taking on Fresno Pacific and Johns Hopkins on Sunday.

Men's & Women's Golf

Wednesday-Thursday, Sept. 9-10 – Gannon at UC Invitational – 8:30 a.m.

The Gannon men's and women's golf teams open their fall schedules on Wednesday and Thursday at the UC Invitational hosted by the University of Charleston.

The 54-hole tournaments begin with 36 holes on Wednesday before concluding with 18 holes on Thursday. Both days feature an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start. The men's tournament will be played at Berry Hills Country Club, while the women's tournament will take place at Edgewood Country Club.

Gannon's men's lineup features Rasmus Seppanen (Bastad, Sweden/Akademi Bastad Gymnasium), Mattia Parrini (Verolengo, Italy/Verolengo), Jacob Wolak (Slippery Rock, Pa./Slippery Rock Area), Kyle Westfall (Erie, Pa./Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy (Erie)) and Vinnie Lenze. The women's lineup consists of Alexandria LeCureux (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston), Cloe Mateo (Sabadell, Spain/Montcau la Mola), Cristina Carrasco (Barcelona, Spain/CEEDCV), Anastasia Lopes (Noverasco di opera (MI), Italy/ISTITUTI DEAMICIS MILANO) and Sophia Reed (Estero, Fla./Estero).

Men's & Women's Cross Country

Congratulations to the Gannon men's and women's cross country teams on opening the 2026 season with a pair of third-place finishes at the Doug Watts Open hosted by Edinboro on Saturday.

Freshman Dane Hieronimus (Toledo, Ohio/Bedford Senior) led the men's team in his collegiate debut, placing fifth overall in the 6K with a time of 20:14.10. Gannon placed five runners among the top 17 and finished third in the six-team field with 64 points.

Alexis Abbett (Aspinwall, Pa./Aquinas Academy) paced the women's team with a sixth-place finish in the 5K, crossing the line in 19:49.00. Freshman Josephine Holody () followed with a 12th-place finish in her collegiate debut, while Josey Blackburn (Northfield, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) gave Gannon a third top-20 finisher with a 20th-place showing. The Golden Knights finished third in the eight-team field with 98 points.

The Gannon men's and women's cross country teams are off this week before returning to action at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational hosted by Roberts Wesleyan on Saturday, Sept. 26.