ERIE, Pa. – The West Liberty University men's soccer team came roaring out of the gate with a statement win here Thursday afternoon, stunning Mercyhurst (Pa.), 3-1, in a mutual season opener on the Lakers' home turf.
    Mercyhurst, coming off an unbeaten spring exhibition season, was tabbed as the preseason favorite in the PSAC West in last month's PSAC Coaches' Preseason Poll.
    Coach Sean Regan's Hilltoppers jumped out to a quick early lead and never looked back in cruising to the impressive win.
    West Liberty opened the scoring in the ninth minute when heavy WLU pressure forced a corner kick and veteran defender Mikel Ubeda headed home a well-placed service from Adam Lynch for a 1-0 Hilltopper lead.
    The Black and Gold broke the match open during the latter part of the opening half.
    West Liberty doubled its lead in the 35th minute when Daniel Rovira sent in a long pass from just across midfield and a hustling Vitor Otsuka volleyed it home from 15 yards out for the goal of the match.
    The backbreaker for the hosts came in the 40th minute when WLU forced yet another corner kick and Mercyhurst keeper Jonathan Gomes couldn't handle Lynch's corner. The twisting shot curled just under the crossbar before bouncing off Gomes' hands into the net for a 3-0 lead at the break.
    The host Lakers turned up the heat in the second half but the Hilltopper defense was equal to the challenge.
    West Liberty didn't surrender a goal in the run of play. Mercyhurst's only goal of the match came on a Sidney Warden penalty kick in the 55th minute. Veteran keeper Noah Underwood kept the hosts off the board the rest of the way and finished with four saves to earn the win.
    The Hilltoppers don't get much time to celebrate as they return home to face No. 1-ranked and defending national champion Charleston on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at the West Family Athletic Complex.
  West Liberty                                       3  0 – 3
Mercyhurst (Pa.)                                0  0 – 0      WLU: Mikel Ubeda (Adam Lynch), 8:54
     WLU: Vitor Otsuka (Daniel Rovira), 34:31
     WLU: Adam Lynch (unassisted), 39:58      MU: Sidney Warden (penalty kick), 54:07      Shots: West Liberty 7, Mercyhurst 14
     Saves: West Liberty 4 (Noah Underwood 4), Mercyhurst 3 (Jonathan Gomes 3)
     Corners: West Liberty 5, Mercyhurst 6