GREENSBURG, Pa. - Senior Alexis Skibitsky scored not only her first two goals of the season, but the first goals of the year for the Mercyhurst field hockey team as they nudged out the host Seton Hill, 2-1 in overtime on Wednesday afternoon at Dick's Sporting Goods Field.  Skibitsky fired five shots in the contest with all getting on target.

The first quarter was dominated by the Lakers as the Griffins did not record a shot against goalie Libby Jones.  However, Mercyhurst was plenty busy on the offensive end as they posted four shots and earned four penalty corners.  Skibitsky made sure that all that effort did not go to waste as at the 7:37 mark she worked her way into the left side of the shooting circle and ripped a shot past Elizabeth Armbruster for the 1-0 lead.  

Mercyhurst started the second strong as well with Alexis Lovewell, Clare Ahern , and Skibitsky all forcing saves out of Armbruster within the opening three minutes.  With 5:33 elapased in the period Kaylie Melnick recorded the first shot for the hosts, but it drifted wide of Jones cage.  Nicole Susi would get the final attempt of the half for either side at the 6:33 mark when the ball crept beyond Jones, fortunately though for the Lakers it was cleared out of trouble by Abby D'Amato to keep it 1-0.

Emma Jorgensen replaced Armbruster in cage for Seton Hill to begin the third.  She would be tested early as Katie Goodenow fired wide, before she had to make a save against Skibitsky.with seven minutes gone.  Leah Rogers, Katie Ballew, and Ahern also recorded shots for the Lakers in the quarter, but Jorgensen was up to the task leaving the score at 1-0 through three.

The defense was strong to start the fourth on both sides with neither team recording a shot in the first ten minutes.  Seton Hill would even the score at the 50:21 mark when Zyah Newsome found Wynnsome Gadson on the right post and she tapped the ball past Jones for a 1-1 score.  The Griffins got one more chance in frame when Olivia Diebel was shut down by Jones with 8:07 remaining.  Mercyhurst made life miserable for the home defense in the final two minutes as they totaled five shots and three penalty corners, unfortunately none resulted in a winner sending the game to overtime.  

Skibitsky ended the game at the 2:05 mark after the Lakers had already recorded three shots she found herself on the right side of the circle after a pass from Hayley Skidmore and hammered the shot over the head of Jorgensen for the winner.  

Mercyhurst returns to action on Saturday, September 14 when they welcome nationally-ranked West Chester University to Saxon Stadium for the home opener beginning at 11am.