Erie, PA—The Mercyhurst Women's Water Polo will be back at home for the first time this season as they will play three games. They will open the weekend on Friday against Bucknell, on Saturday they will face Gannon and Saint Francis.
Laker Outlook
The Lakers have opened their season with a 3-3 record with wins over Wittenberg, Grove City, and most recently Penn State Behrend. Both Sarah O'Keefe and Madison Hoefakker have seen time in net for the Lakers and each have recorded wins this season. Offensively the Lakers have been led by Maddie Nye who has scored 15 goals for the Lakers this season. Cassie Anderson has also been able to net 15 goals this season for the Lakers. Mercyhurst has seen a lot of different players score this season as 11 different players have netted a goal for the girls in Green. Hannah Enquist leads the team this season with 10 assists to start the season. The freshman have been key contruibiters this season as Sakura Gavin has recorded four goals and two assists. Rachel Vlietstra has registered five goals and five assists in her rookie campaign.
Mercyhurst is outscoring their opponents this season 74-56 this season while also allowing just three powerplay goals on 28 attempts. The Lakers have scored 12 times on the powerplay while also recording four goals on penalty shots. As a team the Lakers are averaging 9.4 saves a game while holding opponents to a .381 shooting percentage.
Scouting Bucknell
Bucknell comes into the weekend with a 2-2 record after beating La Salle 11-9 on March 13th and Mount Saint Mary's on March 20th by a score of 21-5. The Bison also dropped a game against La Salle and were defeated by Michigan on March 20th. Bucknell has five freshmen on the team while they returned 13 players from last season.
Scouting Gannon
Gannon enters the weekend with a record of 2-7 to open the spring season. Gannon has been able to secure wins over Virginia Military Academy and Penn State Behrend. The Golden Knights were in action this past weekend when they took on Penn State Behrend and Austin College. Gannon has only two freshmen on the team this season and return 19 from last season in which they went 7-8.
Scouting Saint Francis
Saint Francis is 6-8 this season with their most recent win coming this past weekend when they defeated Mount Saint Mary's by a score of 18-7. The Red Flash and Lakers last met on March 16th, 2019 when Mercyhurst fell by a score of 9-8. Saint Francis has four freshmen on the team this season while returning 11 from last season.
Up Next
The Lakers will at home once again next weekend when they will take on Salem and McKendree on Saturday and Gannon on Sunday.
