Box Score Erie, Pa. - For the second straight year the Millersville men's soccer team finished its season on the Mercyhurst Soccer Field. The Lakers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second half and held off a late Marauder charge to defeat Millersville 3-1 in the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championship game on Friday afternoon.

"Mercyhurst was the better team today," said head men's soccer coach Steve Widdowson. "They came out and established themselves early in the game and they never let us get going. I have to credit them and unfortunately, I think it was a fair result. It has been a good showing for us and we kept fighting to the end, and as a coach that is all I can ask for."

The Marauders conclude their season with a 13-6-2 record and advanced to the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championship game for the second time in the past three years. Friday's loss to the Lakers was Millersville's first ever loss in the Atlantic Regional title game, winning each of their two previous trips to the regional match. Last season, the Lakers ended the Marauders' season with a 3-2 win in the PSAC Semifinal and will now advance to the NCAA Super Regional Championship to play Southern New Hampshire on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Down 3-0 with eight minutes to play the Marauders did not stop fighting. In the 85th minute Millersville brought the ball down the field and sophomore's Ben Johnston and Jeramey Robbins helped get the Black and Gold on the board. Johnston flicked on a pass to Robbins who burried his shot past Mercyhurst keeper Mikko Sarkkinen and cut the lead to 3-1 with five minutes to play.

Less than a minute later Millersville regained possession and a Ryan Rohrer header was sent perfectly to an on coming Andrew Dukes. Right before Dukes was able to head the ball, Sarkkinen snatched the ball out of mid-air and prevented any further threat.

A final attempt by the Marauders with under a minute to go proved futile and Mercyhurst held on for the 3-1 victory.

"This whole postseason has been all heart from this team," added Widdowson. "We have had a lot of guys injured and a lot of them had played hurt and tired most of the postseason. I have never questioned the heart and determination of the players on this team and I was not suprised to see them battle to the very last whistle."

Injuries certainly did not help the Marauders as Millersville was without starting center back Anthony Fratini and forward Jaime Vazquez for the game. Vazquez entered the game in the second half with Millersville down 2-0, but his injury was reaggravated on a shot attempt and he was pulled from the contest.

Mercyhurst (17-5) scored all three of its goals within an 18 minute time frame in the second half. After having thee shots go off the left post earlier in the game, Laker forward Jack Watson finally netted the game's first goal in the 55th minute off of a rebound save that came to his feet.

12 minutes later it was the PSAC Offensive Player of the Year who would help the home team pad their lead to two goals. In the 66th minute Fernando Martinez fired a rocket from 18 yards out that dipped directly into the upper left 90 and gave Mercyhurst a 2-0 advantage.

In the 82nd minute Joseph Korb ran down the right side on a breakaway opportunity, and lofted a shot just over Brad Benzing's reach. The shot trickled into the goal and gave the Lakers a 3-0 lead with eight minutes remaining.

Millersville was outshot 20-9 by Mercyhurst. It was only the fifth time all season that the Marauders were outshot in a game. Benzing made three saves in the loss, while Dukes led the team with two shots.

Widdowson has put his mark on the program. Directing the Marauders to 13 or more wins in four of the past six years. He has led three teams to the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championship match and has made five appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Twice he has taken his teams to the NCAA Quarterfinal, and one time to the NCAA Semifinal. The seventh year head coach knows that reaching the Round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament is something to be proud of.

The Marauders have only reached the NCAA Tournament under Widdowson. The Sheffield, England native has guided the Black and Gold to a 5-3-2 record in NCAA play and has advanced to the next round six of those 10 times.

"It was important to get to the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championship," stated Widdowson. "We are very pleased to make the NCAA Tournament and win a game and advance to where we are today. We have come a long way with our program and I have every confidence in our team that we will back to compete for a PSAC and NCAA Championship next year."

Optimism will be high again for the Marauders in 2014, as Widdowson and company welcome back 12 of their top 15 scorers from this season, including three of the top four.