Weather Permitting, Edinboro to Host Mercyhurst Once Again

GAMEDAY CENTRAL – Mercyhurst at Edinboro

Date: Monday, September 23, 2019
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Site: Sox Harrison Stadium, Edinboro, Pa.
Records: Edinboro 3-2-0, 3-0-0 PSAC West I Mercyhurst 2-1-1, 1-1-0 PSAC West
Edinboro Links:  Roster I Schedule I Stats
Mercyhurst Links:  Roster I Schedule I Stats
Live Stats:  Click Here

AROUND THE LEAGUE

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

SERIES HISTORY

All-Time Series: Mercyhurst leads 10-7-4
Last Meeting: September 26, 2018: Mercyhurst 2, Edinboro 1
How It Happened: The Lakers edged Edinboro on their home pitch, 2-1. Mercyhurst scored once in the first half on a goal by Lauren Casey at 20:15 and added a second goal at 55:30 for a 2-0 lead. Looking to push forward while facing a two-goal deficit, Edindoro would close the gap in half at 75:02. Marissa Shields was able to slide the ball past Mercyhurst goalkeeper Vilde Wold off a scramble. It was the first career goal for the sophomore defender. Edinboro ended with a slight 16-14 advantage in shots. Edinboro goalkeeper Anna Voelker made 7 saves, as did Wolde. It marked the first win for Mercyhurst in the series since 2008. Edinboro had been 7-0-2 against the Lakers in the last nine meetings.

MATCH STORYLINES

Edinboro and Mercyhurst will try again after originally being scheduled to play on September 11. The two teams endured nearly three hours of delays due to lightning before finally starting to play just before 9 p.m. After playing for just over seven minutes, the lightning returned and the match was postponed.
The Fighting Scots have since run off three straight wins to improve to 3-2-0 overall, and more importantly, 3-0-0 in the PSAC West. Win number three came on Saturday night as the Fighting Scots rode a pair of goals by Jessica Frank for a 2-1 win at Clarion.
While Edinboro was winning its third straight on Saturday, Mercyhurst was tasting defeat for the first time, suffering a 2-1 loss to Slippery Rock in overtime. The goals were the first two allowed by Mercyhurst this season. The Lakers are now 2-1-1 overall and 1-1-0 in the PSAC West.
The Fighting Scots were picked to finish sixth in the PSAC West, while Mercyhurst was voted fourth. With the new divisional format, the teams will meet twice this year.
Five different players have scored goals for Edinboro, with Jessica Frank leading the way with three. Brittnie Spithaler, Rebecca Manns, and Sidney Dobbins have two apiece. Sophomore Anna Voelker has been in goal for every minute and has a 1.60 GAA.
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 221-180-37 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

This rivalry week for Edinboro, with the Fighting Scots following up Monday's match vs. Mercyhurst by hosting Gannon on Saturday, September 28. The match gets underway at 5 p.m. at Sox Harrison Stadium.

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Players Mentioned

#14 Sidney Dobbins: MF; 5' 4"; Senior

#36 Jessica Frank: F; 5' 2"; Sophomore

#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

#14 Sidney Dobbins
: 5' 4"; Senior
: MF

#36 Jessica Frank
: 5' 2"; Sophomore
: 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