Oct. 24, 2006

Erie, Pa. - The Mercyhurst men's soccer team broke into the NSCAA/Adidas Division II Top 25 poll for the first time in 2006, reaching No. 25 in the poll released Tuesday.

The Lakers are 15-3 on the year and have locked up the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship with a 7-1 mark. Mercyhurst has climbed to No. 4 in the region as well, the highest the team has been all year.

Mercyhurst is one of four new teams in the top 25, following No. 15 Lander, No. 21 Dominican and No. 24 Christian Brothers. Among Great Lakes Region teams, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville is No. 6, Northern Kentucky is No. 14 and Wisconsin-Parkside is No. 18.

Dowling is ranked No. 1 overall, while Carson-Newman and Fort Lewis are tied at No. 2. Franklin Pierce is No. 4, followed by West Florida.

Mercyhurst closes out the regular season this week with a pair of home games. The Lakers will host Northwood Thursday at 3 p.m. and will then close out the year by hosting rival Gannon Sunday at 2 p.m.