ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst field hockey team for the secon time in less than a week looked across the field at the number one team in the country Millersville University in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference opener for both schools on Friday night at Saxon Stadium. After a competitive first half the Marauders asserted themselves on the way to a 6-0 win.
It took less than three minutes into the game before the guests cracked the scoreboard as a scrum ensued around Lakers keeper
Libby Jones and the bouncing ball was finally pushed home by Emma Boutcher. Under two minutes later Hannah Brown made it 2-0. Natalie Pinder recorded the only other chance of the period with 4:50 remaining, but it went wide.
Mercyhurst came out with high energy to start the second and looked to get right back into the game. However, the attempts from
Clare Ahern as well as
Hayley Skidmore both drifted wide of Autumn Peters in cage. The Lakers defense locked down the Marauders over the rest of the quarter as they did not allow a shot against the entire frame.
Millersville looked to extend the lead early in the third, but Hannah Brown was shutdown by Jones and had her follow-up shot sail wide in the opening 1:19. The home side hoped to mount a chance at the 2:45 mark when they were awarded a penalty corner. Unfortunately, the insert by
Mia D'Amato rolled beyond her teammates and the chance went by the wayside. The Marauders finally found another marker after consecutive penalty corners fed in by Asia Weaver she found Jordan Goddard who ripped her shot past Jones for the 3-0 edge through three.
In the fourth Ahern would record the lone Lakers shot, but it was turned away by visiting goalie Catie Brubaker. The Marauders added three more in the final frame on makers from Kyra Brakefield, Georgia Werkiser, and Ashylnn Lennon for the end result.
Ahern led the Lakers with two shots, while Skidmore recorded the other.
Erica Tarsi and Brown combined for seven shots (four on goal) and a goal to lead Millersville.
Mercyhurst returns to PSAC action on Wednesday, October 3 when they welcome Mansfield University to Saxon Stadium for a 3pm first hit.
