STEUBENVILLE, Ohio -- The Grove City College men's soccer team dropped a 3-2 decision Wednesday night at Franciscan University in Presidents' Athletic Conference action at Trinity Health Systems Field. 

The Wolverines trailed 2-0 in the first half but twice closed to within a goal. Sophomore forward Ryan Merrick (Cranberry Township, Pa./Eden Christian) cut the lead to 2-1 at 27:59 when he scored his third goal of the season. Junior midfielder Aidan Eck (Akron, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian) assisted Merrick's score. 

Franciscan (10-1-3, 6-0-1) reclaimed its two-goal lead at 69:36 on a Ryan Miller goal. Merrick trimmed the lead to 3-2 at 87:21, however, with his second goal of the night. Junior midfielder Matt Herrmann (Hilton, N.Y./Paul V. Moore) assisted Merrick.

It is Merrick's first collegiate multi-goal outing. He is the second Grove City player to score multiple goals in a match this season. Eck scored twice 11 days ago at Thiel. 

Junior goalkeeper Teddy Almeter (Monroeville, Pa./Serra) made five saves for the Wolverines (7-3-2, 4-2). Each team had eight shots on goal.

Franciscan held a 23-16 edge in total shots. The Wolverines had eight corner kicks while Franciscan netted three corner kicks. 

Grove City returns home Saturday to face conference foe Chatham at 3:30 p.m.