Box Score ERIE, Pa.- The #10 Mercyhurst women's lacrosse team beat Slippery Rock, 15-6, Wednesday afternoon.
Taylor Ventre scored a career-high five goals in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) contest at Tullio Field. With the win, the Lakers clinched a bye in next week's PSAC Tournament.
Mercyhurst improved to 14-2 overall and 10-1 in the PSAC. It has secured a top two seed in the conference playoffs. With a win Saturday and a Lock Haven loss, the Lakers will earn the #1 seed and host the PSAC Final Four. Otherwise, Mercyhurst will take the two seed and head to Lock Haven next weekend.
Carly Zimmerman opened the scoring with a goal at the 27:26 mark.
Becca Himes followed with an assist to
Regan Kaestner 44 seconds later. Less than a minute after that,
Taylor Ventre converted a free position shot for a 3-0 advantage. Zimmerman set up a
Mackenzie Jordan goal before The Rock got on the board.
At the 14:01 mark, Himes hit Jordan for a 5-1 lead and then Ventre made a strong move to the net, scoring to give the Lakers a five-goal margin. After a Rock score, Himes found the back of the net. SRU came back with a pair of goals to close the half with Mercyhurst ahead, 8-4.
Jenna Schlagenhauf scored with 28:22 left in the second period, as Jordan assisted. The Rock answered with a goal, but Ventre responded with three straight goals, giving Mercyhurst a 12-5 lead.
Hannah Corton scored at the 13:43 mark and then Zimmerman hit
Kyla Keefe for a goal with 9:07 remaining. After a Rock score,
Emily Gebhardt finished a free position shot to create the final score.
Ventre scored a career-high five goals. Himes tallied a goal and three assists, while Zimmerman totaled two goals and two helpers. Jordan added two goals and an assist.
Rebecca Muscella recorded six saves, while
Gabby Gravino made a pair of stops in the final minutes.
Mercyhurst finished the season a 7-0 record at Tullio Field. It marks the first unbeaten home mark in the PSAC era for the Lakers.
The Lakers travel to Shippensburg for the regular season finale on Saturday, April 26.
