Edinboro Heads Up I-79 for Renewal of Rivalry with Mercyhurst

GAMEDAY CENTRAL – Edinboro at Mercyhurst

Date: Friday, October 11, 2019
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Saxon Stadium, Erie, Pa.
Records: Edinboro 7-2-1, 7-0-1 PSAC West I Mercyhurst 6-3-1, 5-3-0 PSAC West
Edinboro Links:  Roster I Schedule I Stats
Mercyhurst Links:  Roster I Schedule I Stats
Live Stats:  Click Here
Video:  Click Here

AROUND THE LEAGUE

PSAC Scoreboard: Click Here
PSAC Standings: Click Here
PSAC Statistics: Click Here

SERIES HISTORY

All-Time Series: Mercyhurst leads 10-8-4
Last Meeting: September 23, 2018: Edinboro 2, Mercyhurst 1

How It Happened: In a match that was originally scheduled for September 11 but postponed due to several lightning delays, Edinboro jumped out to a 2-0 lead then held off a late rally by the Lakers. Following a scoreless first half, Brittnie Spithaler opened the scoring with a goal at 49:09. Danielle Chatten added her first goal of the season at 71:14 for a 2-0 lead. The Lakers would score with just under four minutes remaining to cut the lead in half. Edinboro held a 17-14 advantage in shots, with Anna Voelker registering six saves.

MATCH STORYLINES

Edinboro looks to maintain its hold of first place in the PSAC West. The Fighting Scots are 7-0-1 in conference action, good for 22 points. Slippery Rock is second with 21 points, with Mercyhurst third with 15 points.
The Fighting Scots have had to go a bit extra in recent matches. Three of their last four contests have gone into overtime, including last Saturday's match vs. Pitt-Johnstown. Edinboro would prevail 1-0 on Marissa Shields' goal in the second overtime session. On Wednesday, Edinboro posted a 2-0 win at Seton hill behind a pair of goals by Daneille Chatten.
Edinboro is 7-0-1 in its last eight contests. That matches the 2013 team which was 7-0-1 during an eight-match stretch.
The Fighting Scots were picked to finished sixth in the PSAC West in the PSAC coaches' preseason poll. At 7-2-1 overall, they have already bettered last year's win total, when they finished at 6-11-0.
Mercyhurst comes in with a 6-3-1 record overall, and is 5-3-0 in league play. The Lakers were picked to finish fourth in the PSAC preseason poll. Like Edinboro, they are streaking, with wins in four of their last five matches, including a 4-1 triumph over Cal U on Wednesday. All three of their losses have been by identical 2-1 scores.
Edinboro is ranked sixth in the latest United Soccer Coaches Atlantic Region rankings, with Mercyhurst ninth
Nine different players have scored goals for Edinboro, with Brittnie Spithaler and Danielle Chatten leading the way with 4 goals, along with 5 assists for 13 points. They are tied for first in the PSAC in assists. Chatten has moved into 11^th place in career goals with 21 goals, along with ranking 12^th in career points (57) and tied for sixth in career assists (15). Rebecca Manns has 2 goals and 3 assists, and is now 13th in career assists with 14. Sophomore Anna Voelker has been in goal for every minute and has a 1.15 GAA with 3 shutouts. She is seventh in the PSAC in goals against average.
Edinboro posted a 6-11-0 finish a year ago while fielding a young squad. Head coach Gary Kagiavas welcomes back nine starters for his 24th season as head coach. Kagiavas has a 225-180-38 record, all as Edinboro's only head coach. The Fighting Scots have qualified for the PSAC Playoffs 11 times, with seven of those in the last nine years. Entering the season, Kagiavas ranked 24^th among active Division II coaches in victories. In addition, he ranks second in wins among PSAC women's soccer coaches, exceeded only by West Chester's Betsy Anne Kempf-Townsley with 332 wins. He has been selected the PSAC Coach of the Year three times (2001, '05, '07).

UP NEXT

Edinboro wraps up a three-game road stretch with a trip to Indiana(Pa.) to play the Crimson Hawks on Wednesday, October 16. The match gets underway at 3:00 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#10 Danielle Chatten: F; 5' 7"; Senior

#13 Rebecca Manns: F; 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior

#18 Marissa Shields: D; 5' 3"; Junior

#26 Brittnie Spithaler: F; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#1 Anna Voelker: GK; 5' 4"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#10 Danielle Chatten
: 5' 7"; Senior
: F

#13 Rebecca Manns
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior
: F

#18 Marissa Shields
: 5' 3"; Junior
: D

#26 Brittnie Spithaler
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: F

#1 Anna Voelker
: 5' 4"; Sophomore
: GK