Oct. 19, 2005

Stats

Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst snapped Wheeling Jesuit's eight-match winning streak with a 3-2 win Wednesday on an overcast, chilly afternoon at the Lakers' soccer field. The Cardinals, ranked #3 in the Great Lakes Region entering play, dropped to 14-3 while the Lakers improved to 11-4.

Mercyhurst took an early 1-0 lead when junior forward Lisa Casement notched her team-leading 16th goal of the year at 8:56, her left wing kick eluding Cardinals' netminder Lauren Lewicki to the far corner.

Mercyhurst stretched the lead to 2-0 later in the half when freshman forward Sarah Powell connected for the 14th time this season on a shot right in front of the Wheeling goal at 39:16. But the Cardinals refused to wilt and with under four minutes left in the half, senior Meghan Graham scored the first of her two goals to cut the Mercyhurst lead to 2-1 at intermission.

Graham then tied the game less than ten minutes into the second half, getting help for a second time from senior Meghan O'Rourke. The scoring play resulted from a corner kick, one of six in the game for the Cardinals.

But with the Lakers back on their heels, junior midfield Finella Annand took a Casement pass in the middle of the field and parked her third of the year behind Lewicki at 64:47. Despite several chances for each team in the waning moments, that goal proved decisive.

Freshman Rebecca Heintzman made her third straight start in goal for the Lakers and registered five saves. Lewicki made two saves in defeat.

Wheeling Jesuit outshot Mercyhurst 20-16 and had a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks.

Mercyhurst will get back to conference play the rest of the week when it entertains Northern Michigan on Friday at 3:00 and Northwood Sunday at 12 noon.