The Gannon men's soccer team is ranked 25th in NCAA Division II poll, the first time the Knights have been nationally ranked since 2003.
The Knights are 6-0 overall, 3-0 in the GLIAC.
Iroquois graduate Dan Howell leads Gannon in with 15 points (five goals, five assists).
Among other area players contributing to the Knights are:
-- Forward/midfielder Andrew Lorei, freshman, Cathedral Prep (two assists in six games).
-- Forward Afrim Latifi, freshman, Cathedral Prep (two assists in three games).
-- Midfielder/defender Rich Petersen, sophomore, Warren.
-- Midfielder Kyle Kozik, freshman, Mercyhurst Prep (one assists in six games.
Senior goalkeeper Pat Dragoone (Villa Maria) and sophomore midfielder Ken Jespersen (Eisenhower) also are on the team.

Senior forward Megan Joint (Mercyhurst Prep) has five goals and two assists for the Gannon women's soccer team (6-2, 1-1).

Freshman defender Maggie Bowher (Mercyhurst Prep) has played in two games.

MERCYHURST
Two area players lead the women's team (6-1-1, 2-0 GLIAC).
Sophomore midfielder Tyler Hilinski (Harbor Creek) was named Mercyhurst's Female Athlete of the Week for scoring two goals in a 5-1 victory over Northwood and one goal in a 2-0 victory over No. 25 Saginaw Valley State. She previous was named GLIAC Player of the Week.

Hilinksi has seven goals and two assists this season.
Junior forward Sarah Powell (General McLane) has eight goals and one assist to lead the Lakers.
Sophomore midfielder/defender Karla Vogt (Mercyhurst Prep) has two assists.
Freshman forward Lindsey Meyer (Harbor Creek) also is on the team.

Junior forward Tyler Emerick (Harbor Creek) has two goals and one assist for the men's team (3-4-2, 1-2-0 GLIAC). Senior defender Jeffrey Powell (General McLane) has one assist.

Junior defender Michael Nelson (Harbor Creek) and freshman midfielder Kamal Sharif (Mercyhurst Prep) also are on the team.

PENN STATE BEHREND
Senior midfielder Jamie Thomas has one goal for the men's team (3-2).
Also on the team are senior midfielder Daryl Nowacki, sophomore defender Phil Knittle, and freshman midfielder/forward Nick Spring.

Junior goalkeeper Beth Lacy and freshman midfielder Kaitlin Schaefer (General McLane) are the only area players on the women's team (1-4-2).

EDINBORO
Freshman midfielder/defender Heather Weismiller (General McLane) has two goals for the women's team (3-2-1 overall, 2-1-0 PSAC).

Junior midfielder Kara Ciacchini (McDowell) has two assists, and sophomore defender Ashley Jones (Fairview) has one assist.

Other area payers on the team are: junior midfielder Kim Koricich (General McLane), junior midfielder Katie DeLuca (Strong Vincent), and freshman midfielder Emily Leone (McDowell)

ALLEGHENY
Freshman goalkeeper Rebecca O'Shurak (Meadville) has made 15 saves in two games for the women's team (1-4-1).

The Allegheny men's soccer team is 4-3 overall.

GROVE CITY
Junior defender Trish Griffith (Saegertown) has one assist for the women's team (6-0-1).

SLIPPERY ROCK
Senior defender Jeff Hamley (Cathedral Prep) has one goal and one assist for the men's team (5-2-2).
Senior goalkeeper Chris Cook (Mercyhurst Prep) has played one half and did not allow a goal.

THIEL
Junior midfielder Elliott Wreh-Wilson (General McLane) has one goal and one assist for the men's team (1-4).
Freshman forward Joe Ugino (Corry) has one goal. Senior forward Asher Bray (Greenville) has one assist. Junior forward Chad Moore (Central Tech) also is on the team.

Sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Echinoz (Oil City) has one goal for the women's team. (1-3-1)
Also on the team are: junior midfielder/forward Margaret Morris (Saegertown) and sophomore forward Sarah Thompson (Corry) .

DUQUESNE
Freshman forward Samantha Kaiser (Mercyhurst Prep) leads the women's team (3-3) with three goals. Freshman defender Lauren Ott (Mercyhurst Prep) has played in six games.

Junior forward Drew Jeffrey (North East) one goal and one assist for the men's team (1-3-1).
Junior midfielder Bryan Matthews (Cathedral Prep) has one assist, and junior midfielder John Strosser (Cathedral Prep) also is on the team.

Freshman midfielder Zach Lucas has played in six matches for the Daemen men's soccer team (3-3), locatedin Amherst, N.Y.

PITTSBURGH
Junior midfielder/defender Matt Firster (Harbor Creek) has played six matches for the men's team (1-4-1).

I know there are other area players out there on college teams. This is a quick list consisting mainly of players on some nearby colleges. If you know of any others who are playing college ball, you can e-mail me.
sean.heilman@timesnews.com