SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – American International scored two goals less than three minutes apart in the second half to break a 1-1 tie and deal the ninth-ranked Mercyhurst College field hockey team a 3-1 setback Sunday afternoon in Springfield, Mass.

Junior Serena Slattery scored the lone goal for the Lakers, who fall to 1-1 on the season. AIC moves to 1-0 to start the season.

Trailing 1-0 in the second half, the Lakers climbed back into the game when junior Rachel Sluberski found Slattery for her first goal of the year off a penalty-corner play nearing the 43-minute mark.

Despite the score, the Yellowjackets regained the lead shortly after with their first of two goals in a two minute and 52 second span. Lisa Duckles broke the deadlock when she converted a penalty stroke after a Mercyhurst foul in front of the cage at 49:35. Mackenzie Kewley then chipped in an unassisted goal at 52:27, giving the home team a two-goal cushion.

Both teams played even according to the shot total, registering 18 shots apiece. The Lakers, however, saw 16 of their 17 on-target attempts get turned away as goalkeeper Kim Steiner had a career day in net. Junior Ashley Wiskup suffered the loss with six stops as she fell to 1-1 on the season

Mercyhurst returns to action in six days when Millersville pays a visit to Tullio Field for the Lakers home opener on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 1 p.m.