The Student News Site of Gannon University since 1947

THE GANNON KNIGHT

The Student News Site of Gannon University since 1947

THE GANNON KNIGHT

The Student News Site of Gannon University since 1947

THE GANNON KNIGHT

Gannon drops season opener

As hot a start that the women’s soccer team has enjoyed this year, the same cannot be said about the men’s team, who have dropped their first two games of the season Friday and Saturday.

The Knights opened the season with a hotly-contested defensive battle against Davis and Elkins. The Knights and Senators were locked in a scoreless battle until the 82nd minute when Davis and Elkins struck to take a 1-0 lead.

Coach Rob Van Rheenan said the Knights’ jitters contributed to their play.

“Both games were similar,” he said. “We started out nervous and not playing our own, more possession-style game. We played better, and with more confidence the second half in both games.”

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That lead would not last long, however, as Gannon freshman forward Robbie Bennett knocked in the equalizer from a pass by junior midfielder Tyler Hollingsworth with just over four minutes to play to force overtime. For Bennett, it was his first career goal as a Knight.

In overtime, the Senators capitalized on a penalty kick that put them up 2-1 five minutes into overtime. They would eventually go on to win the contest.

The Knights continued their road trip in West Virginia Sunday as they faced West Virginia Wesleyan. Like their contest with the Senators, the Knights fell behind first.

Twenty-six minutes into the match, the Bobcats struck first to get the early lead. The score remained the same at halftime, and until the 58th minute, when senior midfielder Austin Miller netted a goal on a corner kick from freshman defender Marnix van der Donk.

That tied the game at one.

The Bobcats took the lead back during the 87th minute, which turned out to be the game winner, dropping the Knights’ record to 0-2.

The Knights will play Shepherd University at 2 p.m. on Wednesday to complete their road trip before returning to Erie for their first home game on Friday against Alderson-Broaddus College at 4 p.m.

JACOB TARR

[email protected]

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