Box Score

ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst field hockey team beat Mansfield, 5-4, Wednesday afternoon. Marissa Faso scored two goals to lead the Lakers to a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division win at Tullio Field.

The first half was a wild affair, with the teams trading scores at a breakneck pace. Mansfield scored 10 minutes into the match, but Cayla Slade answered less than two minutes later. Blair Pembleton dribbled in and then passed in front of the Mountaineer goalie, where Slade deposited the ball into the back of the net, tying the score.

Faso did her work soon thereafter to give the hosts control. At the 13:16 mark, she finished a rebound to put the Lakers up 2-1. Faso converted a penalty stroke at the 15:06 mark to give Mercyhurst a two-goal edge.

Freshman Emily Koestler scored on a rebound with 20:22 remaining in the half as the Lakers went ahead 4-1. Mansfield fought back though, scoring twice in 2:01 to make it 4-3 at the half.

The scoring slowed in the second period, with neither team getting on the board for almost 18 minutes. The Lakers put pressure on the Mansfield defense, eventually resulting in a Slade goal. A pile of players gathered in front of the goal line, with Slade poking the ball across the line.

Kristyn Grunza scored at the 63:56 mark and the Mountaineers had several chances, but Jess Wess and the Laker defense stood tall, hanging on to the one-goal victory.

Wess totaled five saves. Mansfield shot 23 times, compared to 20 for the home team.

Mercyhurst (4-8, 2-4 PSAC) heads to Seton Hill for another PSAC West contest Saturday, October 6. The game is set for a 4 p.m. start.