BLOOMSBURG, Pa.- The #9 Mercyhurst field hockey team fell, 6-2, at Bloomsburg Saturday afternoon. The Lakers clinched a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament spot for the first time since 2009 despite the loss. They will play at East Stroudsburg in a PSAC quarterfinal on Tuesday, November 11.
 
Mercyhurst finished the regular season 9-9 overall and 7-7 in the PSAC. It tied with Slippery Rock and Kutztown at 7-7 in the league, but went through due to its win over Shippensburg last month. The three teams each went 1-1 against each other, sending the tiebreaker to record against teams outside of the tie, starting at the top of the PSAC standings. None of Mercyhurst, Slippery Rock, and KU beat West Chester or Millersville, while the Lakers took down Ship, 1-0, on October 25. That win pushed Mercyhurst ahead of the tie and then the Rock qualified due to its head-to-head win over Kutztown earlier this season.
 
On Saturday, Blair Pembleton started the Lakers on the right foot, scoring a goal at the 9:53 mark for a 1-0 lead. Kelley Hynes assisted on the score. Felicia Domenici answered 26 seconds later with a tying goal.
 
A few minutes later, Pembleton found Marissa Faso near the left post, where Faso knocked in a go-ahead goal at the 13:54 mark. Domenici followed with a goal three minutes later and then Bloom scored again to take a 3-2 lead at halftime. The Huskies added three more goals in the second half to pick up the victory.
 
The Lakers set the Mercyhurst single-season record for goals in a season with 47, passing the 2002 team that scored 46 times. Pembleton and Faso both scored their 13^th goal of the year, the most by a Laker since Emily Warren put up 15 goals in the 2008 campaign.
 
Coach Stacey Gaudette's squad will continue its season next weekend, playing at ESU on Tuesday. The Warriors won, 2-1 in overtime, at Tullio Field on October 18. The winner of Tuesday's match will advance to the PSAC Final Four at West Chester next weekend.