Men's Soccer | 11/8/2014 4:22:00 PM

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ERIE – Seventh-ranked Mercyhurst started fast and finished strong, showing why it entered the day among the nation's top 10 en route to a 5-0 victory over the Bloomsburg University men's soccer team in the 2014 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship Game at cold and overcast Mercyhurst Field.
 
The win is the 14th straight for the Lakers (18-2-0) and snaps what was a seven-match winning streak for the Huskies (13-5-2). Mercyhurst avenges its loss in the PSAC title game last season to Slippery Rock with Saturday's victory.
 
Bloomsburg entered the day seeking its first PSAC championship in the sport of men's soccer, but it was not to be.
 
After the Huskies controlled the pace of play over the first 15 minutes, the Lakers struck in the 21st minute for the first goal when Jack Watson, the nation's leading scorer, worked free on a breakaway and went to the far post for the 1-0 lead.
 
The Huskies tried to answer with 12 minutes left in the half when a shot from Matt Zima (Newtown/Council Rock North) rocketed wide.
 
The Lakers grabbed a 2-0 advantage in the 38th minute when Watson connected for his second goal of the day and 22nd of the season. The redshirt sophomore again connected far post off an assist from Dane Rimko.
 
Mercyhurst seized full control when it struck again in the 59th minute on a goal from Sten Marcson on a shot from the right post for the 3-0 lead.
 
Bloomsburg came inches from getting on the board with 22 minutes left to play when Hamilton Rodkey (Pittsburgh/Penn Hills) worked himself free of defenders on the near wing and fired a shot from eight yards out. His shot flew past the sprawling Lakers keeper, but caught enough of the far post to remain off the goal line to end the Huskies threat.
 
Mercyhurst found the net again at the 69-minute mark on a score from Fernando Martinez off a cross from Danny Deakin, the nation's assist leader. A score from Richard Vanhorne in the 89th minute completed the scoring.
 
The Lakers finished with just a 10-9 edge in shots as the Huskies outshot Mercyhurst 7-4 during the second period. Bloomsburg earned three corner kicks to Mercyhurst's zero.
 
Roma Loboda (Waverly/Abington Heights) and Spencer Conrad (Enola/East Pennsboro) each had three shots with two on goal to lead the Huskies attack, forcing Lakers keeper Nicolas Smith to make four saves.
 
Bloomsburg will now await its NCAA Tournament fate with the field being set Monday evening during the NCAA Selection Show. With the top four teams from the region getting into the NCAA Division II Tournament, Bloomsburg entered the weekend ranked fifth in the Atlantic Region. The Huskies figure to move up, however, after defeating fourth-ranked Seton Hill in Friday's semifinal. Bloomsburg is seeking its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1978.
 
MATCH NOTES: Saturday's result marks the first shutout defeat for the Huskies since a 3-0 setback at NYIT on Sept. 13 in the second match of the year … The Huskies reached the PSAC final for the first time since 2011 … Jacob Pesarcik (Whitehall/Whitehall) saw 12:12 minutes of action in net after Jared Ott (Philadelphia/Archbishop Ryan) earned the start … Austin Transue (Langhorne/Neshaminy), Matt Zima (Newtown/Council Rock North) and Hamilton Rodkey (Pittsburgh/Penn Hills) all had shots on the afternoon.