Photo courtesy of Erin Napolitan Warren boys soccer team starters stand for the national anthem prior to their opening match on Saturday at Mercyhurst Prep.

ERIE — Despite a much better second half, Warren’s boys soccer team lost its opener 8-1 on Saturday at Mercyhurst Prep.

“Credit to the Lakers and coach (Doug) Bakka; they’re a really strong team that has had a lot of success, especially over the past year,” said Warren coach Steffen Blair. “They were able to get off to a fast start. Their midfield controlled the first half, and they had a very talented attacking group that took advantage of their chances.”

Mercyhurst Prep scored early and often, leading 6-0 by halftime.

“Despite a disappointing start, we were really proud of how our boys bounced back in the second half,” said Blair. “Our defense, starting with Chase Sitler, cleaned up our mistakes, limited their chances, and set the tone for the second half. This gave our midfield more opportunities to influence the game, and Quinn Norris and Gavin Rex did just that. We were able control the pace of the game for much of the final 40 minutes.

“Our standout player of the game was Jack Chapman, who despite limited opportunities in the first half, created several big chances in front of goal – culminating in a drawn penalty in the 65th minute.”

Finn Ordiway put the penalty kick in the back of the net for Warren’s lone goal.

“We know that if we want to reach our goals, then we have to be able to compete with teams like Mercyhurst Prep for 80 minutes,” said Blair. “We still have a long way to go, but the loss is a chance to grow and we have a group that’s ready to work and improve.”