CANTON, Ohio – The Malone University men's soccer team dropped a home match on Saturday to Lake Erie College by a mark of 3-1. The Pioneers fall to 3-5-2 on the season and are 0-5-2 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play while the Storm are now 6-4-1 and 5-2-0 inside the league.
 
Malone dominated possession in the second half and ended up with an 11-4 advantage in shots taken (7-1 in second half). Each team took four corner kicks. Senior Gavyn Ernst (3-5-2) made one save in the loss.
 
The Pioneers jumped out to the lead in the 15th minute. Junior Christian Piccolotto played the ball into the box to senior Tha Lwe and a Lake Erie defender deflected his attempt, but it found its way into the back of the net off the left post.
 
A long distance strike by the Storm evened the match at 1-1 in the 30th minute and Lake Erie claimed the lead in the 31st minute with interior passing and a cross in front of the net.
 
Sophomore Nate Werthmuller put a shot on net towards the end of the first half, but at the break, the 2-1 lead remained for the Storm.
 
Freshman Caleb Redding just missed high on an opportunity from a free kick in the 56th minute. Werthmuller had a shot in the 71st minute that was turned away by the Lake Erie goalkeeper and junior Mason Gradel forced a save as well in the 84th minute. The Storm added an insurance goal in the 88th minute to put the match away.
 
The next match for the Pioneers will be at Northwood University on Thursday, October 17 beginning at 3:00 P.M.