LAKEWOOD, NJ (Aug. 30, 2023) - Georgian Court Men's Soccer is in action for the first time in 2023 this weekend with a pair of games in Erie, PA. 

Opponents (2022 Record)
Gannon Golden Knights (13-5-2, 6-2-2 PSAC)
#25 Mercyhurst Lakers (19-1-1, 10-0 PSAC)

Where
Erie, PA - McConnell Family Stadium - at Gannon
Erie, PA - Mercyhurst Soccer Field - at Mercyhurst

When
Friday, Sept. 1 - 3 p.m. at Gannon
Sunday, Sept. 3 - 1 p.m. at Mercyhurst

How to Watch
Both games are available to watch via a free to view broadcast with live stats also provided. Links for both live video and stats are available above and on the Lions schedule page. 

Previously vs. Gannon
• This is the second consecutive season that the Lions and Golden Knights have met to start the season. It was the first ever meeting between the two squads.
• Gannon scored a pair of first half goals to take a 2-0 lead into the half. They made it 3-0 early in the second.
• David Tuschmann and Brandon Sogness scored 12 minutes apart to make it a 3-2 game with just over 20 minutes left to play. The Lions couldn't find the equalizer though and the Golden Knights held on 3-2 in Lakewood.
• Sogness ended up with a goal and an assist in the game.
• Georgian Court outshot Gannon 11-10 including nine second half shots.

Previously vs. Mercyhurst
• The Lakers suffered only one loss in 2022, but it was not at the hands of the Lions. GCU put forth a good effort and trailed just 1-0 at half time.
• The wheels fell off for Georgian Court in the second as Mercyhurst added three more goals and came away with a 4-0 win. 
• The match featured a total of 42 fouls called and 10 cards. 
• Like Gannon, the 2022 match was the first ever meeting between the two programs. 

CACC Preseason
• Last week the CACC unveiled their 2023 Preseason Coaches Poll. Georgian Court, who finished 5-10-3 last year and 3-6-3 in conference were picked to finish in seventh place.
• A year ago Georgian Court in ninth place in the final league standings. They finished the year strong picking up a point in each of the final four matches going 2-0-2 over that stretch.
• Post was atop the poll with Wilmington, Bridgeport, Holy Family and Jefferson making up the top-five. Each of the teams in the top-five received at least one first-place vote. 

Key Returners
• Of the 11 Lions who started 10 or more games last year, nine return. That list doesn't include upper classmen Mathias Madersbacher or Maurice Engl who each missed time with injury but were fixtures in the starting lineup when healthy. 
• Three of the top-four leaders in shots taken are back in the mix in 2023 with Mikey Mallon, Cherif Tammar and Joseph Ficarotta. 
• Goalkeeper Sotirios Gkosdis who started 15 of 18 matches and made 88 saves is also back for his senior season. 

New Faces
• Georgian Court has supplemented their roster with a host of new talent. They have 32 freshman on the roster.
• Some freshmen to keep an eye out for in 2023 include Alessandro Cavallini, Jack Pollintine-Smith, Jonathan Svelland and Gijs Van Eif. 

Individual Milestones
• Mathias Madersbacher is climbing the GCU all-time assists lists. He has seven in his career which is tied for ninth overall and one more will move him into a tie for sixth. 
• Sotirios Gkosdis needs 12 more saves to reach 100 in his career something just four other Lions have done. 

About Gannon
• Gannon finished 13-5-2 in 2022 with the season coming to an end in the PSAC semifinals.
• The Golden Knights bring back five All-PSAC West performers. They also have eight players back who started at least 10 games last season.
• Gannon had the NCAA leading goal-scorer in Sergio Del Castillo last season. He scored 23 goals and 50 points but he graduated and the Golden Knights will need to replace his production.
• Samuel Alarcon started the final 11 games between the pipes in 2022 and is back for his sophomore season along with transfer Mateo Lite.
• In the 2023 Preseason Coaches Poll, Gannon is tied for first in the PSAC West with Mercyhurst. 

About Mercyhurst
• Mercyhurst opens the year ranked 25th in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll. They also were picked to finish first along with Gannon in the PSAC West preseason poll.
• The Lakers were 19-1-1 last year. They won the PSAC Tournament and were unbeaten heading into the NCAA Tournament. Their season came to an end at the hands of CACC foe Post, 2-0.
• The newest face for Mercyhurst this season will be the man on the sideline. Austin Soloman takes over as the team's new head coach.
• Returning on the field for Mercyhurst is PSAC West Athlete of the Year Dylan Sumner. Sumner passed out 15 assists while also scoring nine goals.
• The Lakers will be without the services of 20-goal scorer Sean Kerrigan this season. He led the Lakers with 47 points. 
• They'll also be looking for someone to take over in net. Their most experience netminder with the Lakers is Mattias Odelius who played in five matches and 237 minutes in 2022.