ERIE, Pa. The Mercyhurst University field hockey team pulled away from stubborn Mansfield in the second half to claim a 3-1 victory over the Mountaineers in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) match Tuesday at Tullio Field. Mercyhurst, winners of three straight, improved to 6-7 overall and 4-3 in the conference. Mansfield dropped to 0-13 and 0-7.

Mercyhurst dominated play through the first half, but didn't score until time had actually expired when senior Kierstyn Sturmer converted a late corner with help from junior Emily Burns and senior Andrea Goldbach. The goal was Sturmer's first of the season as she became the 13th Laker to find the back-of-the-net in 2015. Mercyhurst outshot Mansfield 14-0 in the first 35 minutes – six on goal – and totaled all eight first half corners. Mountaineers' goaltender, sophomore Gabrielle Spatz, making her first start and fourth appearance of the year, was credited with six stops. Mercyhurst senior netminder, Sam Takac, the reigning PSAC field hockey Athlete-of-the-Week, was untested in the opening half.

Goldbach collected her third goal of the season five minutes into the second half when she converted a corner with help from Sturmer, whose assist was also her first. Lakers' sophomore Taylor Balser stretched the lead to 3-0 when she cashed a penalty stroke opportunity at 61:36. It was Balser's third goal of the season. She now has both penalty stroke scores this season in three attempts for the Lakers.

Mansfield senior Courtney Wilson ruined what would have been the Lakers first shutout since a 1-0 home win over Shippensburg last October when she redirected a shot past senior Kirsten Rambo, who relieved Takac in the game's final six minutes.

Mercyhurst outshot Mansfield 29-3 for the entire contest, including a 13-3 advantage in shots on goal. The Lakers outdistanced the Mountaineers 17-2 in corners. Takac (6-7) made two saves while counterpart Spatz, brilliant throughout, registered ten.

Mercyhurst, a 6-1 winner at Mansfield September 15, matched a three-game winning streak achieved last month (Mansfield, Lindenwood, and Seton Hill). The Moutaineers are now 0-7 on the road and have been outscored 39-3.

The Lakers will entertain Slippery Rock this Friday at 4pm.