Box Score Erie, PA—The Mercyhurst Women's Water Polo closed out their regular season with a conference win over cross-town rival Gannon. The Lakers came out on top with a 10-7 win to end the regular season with a 6-6 record and 3-3 in conference play.
How it Happened
Maddie Nye opened the scoring for the Lakers just three minutes into the game on a penalty shot. Just two minutes later the Lakers were able to extend their lead to two as Cassie Anderson netted a goal for Mercyhurst. Gannon was unable to score any goals in the first period as Mercyhurst went into the second with a 2-0 lead.
Nye got back on the board just 47 seconds into the second period as she netted the first of three Lakers goals in the frame. Nye was back at it again with 6:24 remaining in the second as she completed a hattrick in the first half. With just over three minutes remaining in the second period Rachel Vlietstra scored off a beautiful pass from Hannah Enquist. The Lakers headed to halftime with a 5-0 lead.
Gannon would outscore the Lakers in the third period 3-2. Rachel Morris and Sara Marin would score for the Lakers while Alexa Anderberg would pick up an assist on Marin's goal.
Mercyhurst entered the final period with 7-4 lead. Less then 30 seconds into the period Nye would score her fourth goal of the day to put the Lakers back up by five. Gannon would get back-to-back goals to cut the lead to 8-5 with 6:22 remaining. Hanna Good would respond with the ninth Laker goal. Gannon would answer right back, before Marin scored her second of the game and tenth of the game for the Lakers.
Sarah O'Keefe started in the cage for the Laker and was able to make six saves while also recording two steals. The Lakers held the Golden Knight to a .269 shooting percentage and allowed just two powerplay goals on 13 attempts. Mercyhurst was able to score on their two penalty shots while going 1-3 on the powerplay.
Up Next
The Lakers will head to Lebanon, Illinois for the WWPA Championship on April 24th and 25th.
