ERIE, Pa. – Mercyhurst College head football coach Marty Schaetzle has announced the Lakers' 2010 football schedule. Included in the 11-game slate are five home games that start with a homecoming battle against Lock Haven on Sept. 25 at 1 p.m. 

Mercyhurst kicks off the season with a night contest at Notre Dame College on August 28 at 7 p.m. The Falcons are in their inaugural season of varsity competition after beginning their program in the fall of 2008. Notre Dame will play the 2010 season as an NAIA independent and is currently a Candidacy Year-One institution in the NCAA Division II membership process. 

After an off week over the Labor Day holiday weekend, the Lakers begin Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference crossover play with back-to-back road games at Kutztown and C.W. Post on Sept. 11 and Sept. 18, respectively. 

This is the first meeting with the Golden Bears while Mercyhurst and C.W. Post have met three times. The Pioneers hold a 2-1 edge in the all-time series, with the Lakers posting a 17-13 victory in 1995, the last time the squads met. 

Kutztown finished with a 3-8 overall mark a year ago, 1-6 in the PSAC East. C.W. Post posted a 6-5 mark, 5-2 against teams from the Eastern Division. 

The Lakers finally return to the friendly confines of Tullio Field for the home opener and first PSAC West contest on Sept. 25 at 1 p.m. against Lock Haven. The game is also part of homecoming weekend at Mercyhurst. A full schedule of homecoming events is expected to be announced by Alumni Relations in mid-summer. 

The Bald Eagles are 0-2 all-time against the Lakers and went 0-10 overall a season ago. 

The Lakers then hit the road for three straight contests, beginning with an Oct. 2 battle at city-rival Gannon. Kick-off against the Golden Knights is set for 12 noon. Mercyhurst owns a 9-3-1 advantage in the all-time series, including its current four-game winning streak over Gannon. 

On Oct. 9 Mercyhurst returns to Indiana (Pa.) looking for its second-straight win over the Crimson Hawks after taking a 20-16 victory at home in 2009. However, the Lakers are still searching for their first road victory over the Crimson Hawks after falling in Miller Stadium in 2008 in the teams' first-ever meeting. Kick-off is set for 2 p.m. 

In their third consecutive away game, the Lakers make the short trip down Interstate 79 to face the Fighting Scots of Edinboro in a 1 p.m. start on Oct. 16. Edinboro holds a 4-2 all-time advantage against the Lakers but have not had success at home in recent years as Mercyhurst upset then-ranked No. 15 Edinboro, 24-21, in 2008 at Sox Harrison Stadium. The Fighting Scots posted a 9-4 overall mark, 5-2 in PSAC West play a season ago and advanced to the NCAA playoffs but will be without Harlon Hill Trophy nominee quarterback Trevor Harris for the first time in four years.

The Lakers finally return home on Oct. 23 for the first of four straight home contests to close out the season for a 12 noon kickoff against California (Pa.). The Vulcans have reached the NCAA semifinals in each of the last three seasons, recording an 11-4 overall mark, 7-0 in the PSAC West a year ago.   Mercyhurst looks for its first win in the all-time series over the perennial powerhouse. 

Slippery Rock, Clarion and Shippensburg close out the Lakers' 2010 schedule. 

Mercyhurst looks to avenge losses from a year ago against The Rock and the Golden Eagles while tentatively slated to face the reigning PSAC champions Red Raiders in the final PSAC crossover contest of the year. 

The Rock handed the Lakers a 17-16 defeat last year en route to a 6-5 overall mark, 3-5 in the Western Division. The all-time series is tied at one win each after Mercyhurst opened with a 34-10 victory in 2008. Kick-off for the Oct. 30 game is set for 12 noon. 

Clarion's breakout season in 2009 ended with an 8-3 overall mark, 6-1 against the PSAC West, including a come-from-behind 29-25 win over the Lakers. The all-time series is tied at one each as well, with Mercyhurst taking a 41-7 victory in the Lakers first-ever PSAC contest. 

The Lakers won their only meeting in 2008 against Shippensburg. Both the Clarion and Shippensburg contests are set for 12 noon start times. 

2010 Schedule
Aug. 28 - at Notre Dame (Ohio), 7 p.m.
Sept. 11 - at Kutztown, 6:05 p.m.
Sept. 18 - at C.W. Post, 1 p.m.
Sept. 25 - LOCK HAVEN*, 1 p.m. [Homecoming]
Oct. 2 - at Gannon*, 12 noon
Oct. 9 - at Indiana (Pa.)*, 2 p.m.
Oct. 16 - at Edinboro*, 1 p.m.
Oct. 23 - CALIFORNIA*, 12 noon
Oct. 30 - SLIPPERY ROCK*, 12 noon
Nov. 6 - CLARION*, 12 noon
Nov. 13 - SHIPPENSBURG,12 noon