ERIE, Pa. – The fifth-ranked Mercyhurst College women's lacrosse team erased an 8-6 second-half deficit with a late four-goal surge, defeating cross town rival Gannon, 10-9, Saturday March 20 at Gannon University Field.

No. 5 Mercyhurst (6-0) posted its sixth consecutive win to open the season, and is now 2-0 in PSAC West play. Gannon, ranked 10th in NCAA Division II, falls to 3-3, 0-2 in divisional competition.

Senior Celeste Shefferly and freshman Kayla Minner each record three goals. Junior Kimberly Masterton tallied two goals, while senior Kristie Jennings and sophomore Laura Trenti added one tally apiece. Sophomore Ally Keirn registered a team-high four assists.

Senior Maeve McGoff earned the win, making two saves while playing the second half. Sophomore goalie Jenny Perkins started for Mercyhurst, making three saves while allowing five goals during 30 minutes of action. Gannon's Acacia Cook made four saves, yielding 10 tallies.

Gannon's Mary Eshnour talled a game-high five goals, and Tary Millerd added three.

The Golden Knights held a 5-4 halftime lead, but the Lakers tied the game twice on a pair of Shefferly goals, and the score was knotted at 6-6 with 25:39 remaining. The Golden Knights tallied the next two goals for an 8-6 advantage with 20 minutes left on the clock.

Minner then scored at 19:39 off of an assist by Masterton, and the Lakers trailed 8-7. Masterton tallied five minutes later, tying the game at 8-8. Mercyhurst played strong defense off the ensuing draw, with Minner drawing a charge and McGoff picking off a centering feed. Masterton converted on the Lakers' next possession, giving the visitors their first lead of the game at 9-8 with 9:07 remaining.

McGoff stole another centering attempt from Gannon, regaining possession with 6:40 to go. The Lakers then ran four minutes off the clock before Shefferly found Minner alone in front for a 10-8 Mercyhurst lead.
The Golden Knights responded with a goal shortly after controlling a draw, and trailed 10-9 with 1:50 left in the contest. A series of turnovers led to Gannon's last chance. Following a foul in Gannon's attacking zone, Maggie Yackel made a key defensive play, stick-checking the ball away from a Gannon attacker with nine seconds remaining to secure the Mercyhurst victory.

For the game, Mercyhurst outshot Gannon, 22-19, including 15-8 during the second half. The Lakers also held a slight edge in draw controls (12-9) and groundballs (21-20).

The Golden Knights ran out to a 4-1 lead early in the first half, but the Lakers tied the game at 4-4 with a three-goal run. Gannon ended the half on the offensive, tallying once to take a 5-4 halftime lead. Perkins made several key stops with the clock winding down to keep the Lakers within one goal.

Saturday's win was Mercyhurst's second in the last three meetings with Gannon, but the Lakers' last win at Gannon was May 1, 2002, a 10-8 victory.

The Lakers will next play at PSAC West opponent Slippery Rock Thursday, March 25 at 7 p.m.