Jonathan Merli's header with just under 20 minutes to play broke a 1-1 tie and lifted the Pitt-Johnstown men's soccer team to a 2-1 PSAC Western Division victory over California (PA), Saturday afternoon at the Pitt-Johnstown Soccer Field.  The Mountain Cats evened their record at 3-3-0 overall and improved to 1-2-0 in conference-play.
 
At halftime, Head Coach Eric Kinsey and the Mountain Cats honored this year's seniors…Owen Anderson and Sage Parsley.
 
Jaeger James scored off of a free kick from to top of the box 30 minutes into the match to give Pitt-Johnstown the lead.
 
California (PA) answered to tie it when Andriy Bilous finished and assist from Jacob Gretz 10 minutes into the second half, but the Mountain Cats were able to get the eventual game-winner 10 minutes later.
 
After Josh Sollars' corner kick rattled around the box, Merli's header found the back of the net behind Vulcans goalkeeper AJ Visco to put Pitt-Johnstown on top, 2-1, in the 71^st minute.
 
That all the Mountain Cats, who outshot the Vulcans, 12-7, would need as Parsley and Jacob Tichnell did the rest in goal.  Parsley played the first 23 minutes and kept California (PA) off the scoreboard while making one save.  Tichnell played the final 67 minutes, allowed one goal and made two saves to secure the victory.
 
Visco suffered the loss after allowing two goals for the Vulcans, who slipped to 3-7-1 overall and 1-2-0 in the PSAC West.
 
Pitt-Johnstown travels to a PSAC West match at 20^th-ranked Mercyhurst on Wednesday, before hosting a conference match against 13^th-ranked Gannon on Saturday at noon at the Pitt-Johnstown Soccer Field.