SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Senior Julia Rescott showcased her leadership skills on Wednesday afternoon as she buried seven goals on just eight shots to help the 22nd-ranked Mercyhurst women's lacrosse team remain unbeaten with a 16-12 win over Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division foe Slippery Rock University at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.  

Katie Dlugosz took just 11-seconds to give the home side the lead slipping a shot by Kaitlyn Lippert.  That immediately woke up the Lakers attack as Gabby McGinn setup Rescott for her first and second, followed by Molly Meegan as well as Payton Cook working down the right side and firing the rock past Gillian O'Rourke making it 4-1, 7:13 in.  The Rock responded in a big way with Emily Benham scoring three straight to knot the game.  Cook and Gina Perna hit the net for Mercyhurst, but each time were matched by SRU leaving things tied at 6-6 with two minutes to play.  Benham would give the Rock their second edge of the contest 7-6 with a free-position tally, before Meegan answered back just before the buzzer.

Mercyhurst reclaimed the lead at 8-7 with 2:17 gone in the second as Paige Cocina took advantage of a free-position opportunity.  Then after a yellow card to Julia Ruscio left the Green and Blue playing a player down it was that all too familiar duo of McGinn to Rescott cashing in again for a 9-7 cushion.  Sam Barnhart stopped the Lakers run briefly, before Rescott, Meegan and Cook netted three straight to increase the margin to 12-8 not even ten minutes in. SRU cut the deficit to 12-9, but then Hurst bagged three of the next four goals thanks to Rescott twice along with Perna stretching the gap to 15-10 wit 15-minutes remaining.  The Rock would score two more, while Rescott notched her seventh with a free-position marker for the 16-12 final. 

Team Stat Pack
Shot Attempts - Hurst, 30 / Rock, 37 
Shots on Goal - Hurst, 27 / Rock, 28
Clears - Hurst, 16-19 / Rock, 12-21
Draw Controls - Hurst, 12 / Rock, 17
Ground Balls - Hurst, 19 / Rock, 17
Turnovers - Hurst, 17 / Rock, 18
Free-Position Attempts - Hurst, 4-7 / Rock, 2-6

Mercyhurst Individual Stat Leaders
Points - Rescott (7), McGinn (6), Cook (5), Meegan (3)
Goals - Rescott (7), Cook and Meegan (3), Perna (2), Cocina (1)
Assists - McGinn (6), Cook (2)
Draw Controls - Cocina (4), Cook (3), Grace Gajan (2)
Ground Balls - Anna Kenyon and Meegan (3)
Saves - Lippert (16)

Rock Individual Stat Leaders
Goals - Benham (4), DiCarlo (3), Dlugosz (2)
Draw Controls - Rondeau (7), Dlugosz (5)
Saves - O'Rourke (11)

On Deck 
The Lakers return to Saxon Stadium on Tuesday, March 23rd at 4pm when they continue PSAC West play against Seton Hill University.