Gavin Linsell scored the game’s only goal, lifting the Gannon University men’s soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Seton Hill University Tuesday in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference game in Greensburg.

The win boosted the Knights’ overall record to 4-7 and left them 3-4 in PSAC play going into Saturday’s 5 p.m. game at home against the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown.

Seton Hill fell to 3-1-1 in conference play and remained one point ahead of Gannon, in fourth place in the conference.

Linsell’s goal — the first of his career — came in the 65th minute, snapping a scoreless tie for the Knights.

Gannon standout forward Robbie Bennett – named the PSAC men’s soccer athlete of the week — said he thought the Knights controlled the first half of play but couldn’t connect with their final passes.

In the second half, Bennett said, Gannon continued to apply pressure, and that ultimately resulted in Linsell’s goal.

After the Knights scored, Bennett said, they sat back slightly and gave Seton Hill nothing to work with.

“We had a few chances on the break, but we defended really well, giving them no clear chances,” he said.

“We showed a lot of character to come back from a run of losses to beat a team at the top of the PSAC.”

Gannon also played a match last weekend, falling 3-2 to Lock Haven in Lock Haven.

In Saturday’s game, the Knights built a 2-1 halftime lead, only to see the Bald Eagles rally with a pair of goals in less than seven minutes to pull out the victory.

Gannon overcame an early 1-0 lead by scoring a pair of goals just 90 seconds apart.

Nick Stephenson scored the first goal of his Gannon career in the game’s 38th minute to tie the score at 1-1, taking a crossing pass from Bennett and converting inside the far post.

Just 90 seconds later, Bennett netted his team-high ninth goal of the season to give the Knights a 2-1 lead.

The Knights maintained their lead until the 58th minute of the match  when Lock Haven’s Jacob Oldaker tied the score.

Then, a little more than six minutes later, Tyler Sablyak put home the game-winner, converting Troy Amspacher’s corner kick.

Gannon put the pressure on during the final 27 minutes, taking four shots and launching a pair of corner kicks, but the Knights were unable to tie the match.

Staff Reports