Erie, Pa. – The Mercyhurst University women's field hockey team battled the weather and Slippery Rock University Friday afternoon before prevailing 3-2 in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) match played at Tullio Field. The Lakers, who stretched their winning streak to four, improved to 7-7 overall and to 4-3 in the conference. The Rock fell to 5-10 and 2-6.

Mercyhurst got off to a great start in the first half, getting goals from freshman Jessica Brandon, her eighth, at 2:31; junior Emily Burns, her first, at 9:32; and sophomore Taylor Balser, her fourth, at 22:32.  Brandon moved smartly down the left side before taking an open shot, Burns took Brandon's pass in front of the net and scored, while Balser converted a corner with help from senior Andrea Goldbach. All three goals came against Slippery Rock senior net minder Carlee DuMars. The Rock scored late in the half (Erika Rohrbach) to draw within two at intermission. Slippery Rock outshot Mercyhurst 9-5 in the first half, which was interrupted by lightning about ten minutes into the contest and also featured wind, rain, and hail. The Rock also had more corners, 7-2, in the first 35 minutes.

Slippery Rock drew within a goal at 43:28 when Kailee Krupski took a shot off a corner that deflected off Lakers' senior goalie Sam Takac's glove and into the net. Despite great effort by both teams, neither would score again in the final 26:32 of play.

Slippery Rock outshot Mercyhurst 13-10, had more shots on goal (9-5), and had more corners (11-7). Takac recorded seven saves in squaring her record at 7-7.

Mercyhurst will attempt to win its fifth straight when it travels to West Chester next Wednesday for a 4:00 p.m. match.