Erie, PA—The Mercyhurst Women's Water Polo team was back in the pool for two conference games against Salem and McKendree. Mercyhurst fell in the first game by a score of 11-7. Against McKendree the Lakers bounced back with a 11-5 win.

Game One (L, 11-7)

The Lakers fell to Salem for the second time this season. Mercyhurst was able to outshoot the Tigers 37-29. The Lakers were able to take advantage on the power play as they were able to score three of the seven goals with the advantage.

Mercyhurst was able to get goals from four different Lakers. Reigning WWPA Player of the Week Cassie Anderson was able to score four goals in the first game of the day. Rachel Morris, Sara Marin, and Maddie Nye each netted a goal. Sarah O'Keefe got the nod in net but was replaced by Madison Hoefakker at the start of the second quarter. The Laker netminders combined for seven saves in the loss.

Game Two (W, 11-5)

Mercyhurst was able to bounce back from a conference loss with a huge conference win over McKendree. Hanna Good gave the Lakers good start to the game as she netted her first of two goals in the night cap of the doubleheader. After the Bearcats tied the game, Nye got back on the scoresheet to give the Lakers the lead again. Nye would score two more in the opening frame as the Lakers headed into the second period up 4-3.

The Lakers took control in the second period outscoring McKendree 4-1. Good scored her second goal of the game early in the frame. Anderson then netted her first goal of the game and fifth of the day on a penalty shot. Isabella Morris would get in on the scoring with 3:25 remaining until halftime. With 30 seconds remaining in the second frame Sakura Gavin netted a goal to make the lead 8-4 going into half time.

The third period was all Mercyhurst as they scored three and kept McKendree off the scoreboard. Rachel Vlietstra was able to net the ninth Laker goal at the 4:38 mark of the third. The Lakers scored their final two goals of the game as Nye and Rachel Morris scored on back-to-back shots with under a minute remaining.

In the fourth period the Lakers went full park the bus on the Bearcats as they allowed just two shots while one found the back of the net. Sarah O'Keefe only saw six shots on goal and earned the win for the Lakers.

Up Next

Mercyhurst will play Gannon tomorrow in the final regular season game of the season. The Lakers will then travel to Lebanon, Illinois for WWPA Championships on April 24^th and 25^th.