Box Score

Slippery Rock, Pa. – Mercyhurst used a late two-goal burst, turning a 1-0 deficit into a key 2-1 win in a women's soccer match at Slippery Rock Wednesday, Sept. 23. The Lakers scored in the 80st and 83rd minutes, with Taylor Hilinski's header providing the winning margin.

With the win, the Lakers improve to 5-3-1 overall, including a 5-1-1 PSAC West mark. Mercyhurst is in second place after one rotation of divisional play. The Rock is now 4-3-1, and tied for fourth in the PSAC West at 3-3-1.

Slippery Rock gained a territorial advantage for a majority of the second half, finally cashing in during the 71st minute, as The Rock transitioned from the midfield to the attacking third. Linda Schirmeister played a short through-ball to Ashley Paganie, who poked it into the net for a 1-0 Rock lead at 71:05.

Slippery Rock nearly doubled its lead moments later, when Alison Hindley's header sailed wide of the mark. Following that, a plucky and determined Laker side seized the momentum for the remainder of the game, recording seven of the final eight shots.

Late in the 79th minute, Sara Hawksworth sent a long ball to Molly Marsh. Marsh dribbled wide on the right side, slashing into the box before driving a cross toward the danger area. Rock defender Dana Kiger inadvertently cleared the ball into the net for an own goal, and the game was knotted at 1-1 at the 80:36 mark.

Following a Slippery Rock foul, Jamie Schroter sent a ball that Heather Donovan found on the right side. She dribbled the ball inside the box, taking a shot from in tight that rang off the crossbar, ricocheting to the pitch. Hilinski headed the ball across the goal line at 82:35 for a 2-1 Mercyhurst lead.

The Lakers marked The Rock tightly on defense, not allowing opportunities at net during the final five minutes. One last threat was averted, and the Lakers had completed a thrilling comeback.

For the match, the Lakers outshot Slippery Rock 13-12, while each team attempted four shots on net. The Rock took seven corners to the Lakers' four.

During the first half, the teams played evenly, with each team having several offensive forays. Danielle Braun had a close chance deflected by a SRU defender for a corner kick in the 19th minute. In the final minute of the first half, Schroter stopped a shot from crossing the goal line off of a corner kick, and the teams went to halftime in a scoreless tie.

Laker goalkeeper Amanda John made three saves in the win, while Sarah Lacy stopped two out of four shots faced.

Hilinski's goal, her fifth of 2009 was also the 34th of her caeer, tying her with Becky Miller for seventh all-time in program history. She also registered her eighth career game-winning goal with the late strike. She had a career-high five game-winners in 2008.

The Lakers have won the last seven meetings against The Rock, with five being decided by one goal apiece. Mercyhurst downed Slippery Rock four times last season.

Mercyhurst hosts W. Va. Wesleyan Sunday, Sept. 27 at 2 p.m. The Bobcats pulled out a 1-0 victory last season when the teams met at W. Va. Wesleyan.