Mercyhurst University

Mercyhurst University Athletics
501 E. 38th St. Erie, PA 16546

Division 2 Pennsylvania Northeast

Private Small Competitive team

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Coaches

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Austin Solomon

Solomon is entering his 10th season on the sidelines for Mercyhurst men’s soccer with the 2023 season being his first as the head coach. Solomon joined the Lakers’ coaching staff in the fall of 2013 as a graduate assistant, later becoming assistant coach in April of 2015 and associate head coach in February of 2018.

Solomon helped lead the Lakers to the best season in program history with a record of 19-1-1. The team allowed just six goals all season long for the fewest in a single season and the fewest by any team during the 2022 season with 13 straight shutouts to their line. The Lakers collected both the Athlete and Defensive Athlete of the Year honors, proving to be the crown jewel of the PSAC in 2022. There were a total of seven players who were named to an All-PSAC team with six on the first team while there were four players named to an All-Region and three to an All-American team.

During Solomon’s coaching years at Mercyhurst, the Lakers were PSAC regular season champions on five occasions (’13, ’14, ’15, ’16, '22), PSAC Tournament Champions thrice (‘14, ‘16, '22), and PSAC Tournament Runner ups in 2015.

On the national scene, the Lakers have made the NCAA National Tournament four times during Solomon’s coaching years. In 2013, the Lakers made it to the Elite 8, where they lost to the eventual NCAA Tournament champion, Southern New Hampshire, in a thrilling PK shootout at home. In 2014, the Lakers made it to the Sweet 16 and, in 2016, men’s soccer made it to the second round of the tournament.

Solomon is a native of Tegucigalpa, Honduras and a graduate of DelCampo International School. He left his home in 2007 to move to Richmond, VA. and arrived to Mercyhurst in the fall of 2009 as a member of the men’s soccer team. Solomon played four seasons as a Laker midfielder. During his senior season, Solomon captained the Lakers and guided them to its first PSAC regular season title and PSAC Tournament title in 2012. Solomon also made four NCAA tournament appearances with the Lakers (’09-‘12). During the 2012 NCAA Tournament, Solomon led the Lakers to the national semifinals. Solomon scored the game-winning goal against Gannon in the Sweet 16 and, in the Elite 8, he contributed with the opening goal and an assist against Southern New Hampshire, which propelled them to the Final Four in Evans, GA. Apart from being a Laker, Solomon has played for the Erie Commodores since 2011 in the NPSL, earning a few conference titles along the way.

Solomon graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing before earning a Master's in Organizational Leadership from Mercyhurst University.

Solomon resides in Erie with his fiancée, Jennifer.

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Andrew Bennett

Bennett formerly played for the Lakers for two seasons, helping lead the team to a PSAC Championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2018 while being named to an All-PSAC team. He also spent time on the sidelines for Mercyhurst as a Volunteer Assistant from 2018-2020 before joining Edinboro's Women's Soccer staff as a Volunteer Assistant for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Bennett has also coach several Erie-based teams in the Erie Admirals, Erie Commodores, and Erie F.C.

Bennett graduated from Mercyhurst with his Bachelor’s in Exercise Science before earning his Master’s in Business Administration from Edinboro.

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Tom Barry

Barry enters his first season on the sidelines for the Lakers in 2023. The native of Middlesbrough, England previous spent three seasons on the pitch for Mercyhurst with him playing in a total of 32 games while adding nine goals and six assists to his line. His best season came in 2021 when he was named a member of the PSAC West First Team after finishing with five goals and three assists for a total of 13 points.

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John Melody

Melody was a two-sport (soccer, golf) athlete at Mercyhurst in the late 80s before making his mark as the men's and women's soccer coach from 1997 to 2001. His men's teams had an overall record of 70-21-4 in five years and had a perfect 27-0 record in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. The men recorded five GLIAC titles and reached the NCAA Playoffs in 1998, 2000, and 2001 while making it to the Final Four in 1998.

The women finished his five-year tenure with an overall 72-19-6 record and were 37-4-3 in the GLIAC. The ladies made the NCAA Tournament in 1999, 2000, and 2001. Melody was named GLIAC Men's Coach of the Year three times and GLIAC Women's Coach of the Year twice. He was twice chosen both Men's and Women's Regional Coach of the Year during his five years at the helm.

Melody reprised his role as head coach for the women in 2022, acting as the interm coach in the fall, helping lead the team to a 10-6-4 overall mark while going 8-4-4 in the PSAC, seeing their season come to a close in the second round of the PSAC Tournament.