ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst field hockey team continued their 2021 spring season this weekend with matchups against Slippery Rock (Saturday) and Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Sunday).  Unfortunately for the Lakers they came up a little short in both contests falling by scores of 4-0 and 2-0.  

Saturday - Rock 4, LAKERS 0
The Green and Blue were under pressure most of the day as Slippery Rock held a 14-4 shot advantage along with an 8-1 edge in attacking penalty corners.  The Lakers hung around most of the first half as they were down just 1-0 through 30 minutes.  However, it was the host Rock that found their stride over the remaining two quarters outscoring the visitors 3-0 to claim the 4-0 win.

Lakers Player of the Game
Goalie Gabriella Amico led from the back according to head coach Brittney Randolph.  She did a great job in cage making several unconventional saves and showed up in a big way that helped to give us a chance.  

Sunday - Indiana (Pa.) 2, LAKERS 0
The visitors would apply the early pressure in the first getting three corners, but only forcing one save out of Lakers keeper Gabriella Amico.  Mercyhurst never really mustered any sustained offense in the opening 15-minutes and were never able to test the IUP cage. 

IUP began the second period strong as they hit crossbar and forced a save out of Amico in the opening eight minutes.  The Lakers finally made their way towards the IUP goal and earned a couple of corners.  However, attempts by Samantha Myers and Alexis Lovewell were both blocked by the Hawks defense.  IUP broke through with four minutes left in the half as they took advantage of a corner for the 1-0 edge.  Mercyhurst looked to pull even at the break, unfortunately, the shot from Lovewell with eight ticks left never got to the mark. 

In the third the Crimson Hawks supplied the only offense as they earned two corners in the frame and cashed in on one of them making it 2-0 after 45 minutes as the Lakers could not get past the staunch visiting defensive line.

Less than five minutes into the fourth the Green and Blue were provided a great opportunity to get back in the game earning four consecutive corners.  However, they were able to get just two shots away as Jenna Cavalieri and Lizzy Laird were denied by the keeper.  With three minutes remaining Alexandria Shumsky had an attempt at cage but skipped her offering just wide.  Neither side would get another chance as the game finished 2-0.       

Lakers Player of the Game
Alexis Lovewell was named the Player of the Game by her coach after leading the Lakers counterattack.  Coach Randolph added "she executed everything that we have been working on in practice with grace and composure on both sides of the ball."

Thoughts from Coach Randolph
"It was great to get out this weekend and play two familiar PSAC opponents."
"We looked at each quarter as an opportunity to better ourselves from the first quarter against SRU til the final whistle at home today versus IUP."
"We made major improvements throughout the weekend on our attacking corners and circle entries which I was quite pleased with."
"We look forward to getting two more opportunities to take the field to give ourselves something to look at and build on heading into the fall."

On Deck
The Lakers will play next Saturday at Frostburg State in Maryland at 1pm, before heading to The Nichols School in Buffalo for a neutral site game against the University of Rochester on Sunday at 2:30pm to finish out the spring slate.