FROSTBURG, Md. – The Mercyhurst field hockey team began their final weekend of the 2021 spring season with a trip down to Frostburg State University in Maryland on Saturday afternoon.  Unfortunately, for the Green and Blue a strong second half showing by the Bobcats was enough to push them past the Lakers for a 5-2 win. 

Frostburg wasted no time in applying pressure at the Lakers cage as they earned an attacking corner just 29-seconds in, before Taylor Henderson slipped a shot past Gabriella Amico for the early lead.  Mercyhurst first chance of the contest came with 15:12 gone when Kayla Gill was turned aside by Madison Manalansan.  The Bobcats responded with three consecutive chances, but none of them tested Amico in cage.  Over the final five minutes of half number one the Lakers earned five straight attacking penalty corners, however shot attempts by Alexandria Shumsky, Jillian Blas, Alexis Lovewell, and Sarah Vosburgh were unable to beat Manalansan. 

Lizzy Laird recorded the opening shot of half at the 8:15 mark, but it was blocked by the home defense.  Just under three minutes later Gabby Rachuba found Heidi van Dyk for a 2-0 edge.  Vosburgh made sure that margin did not last long as she beat the keeper 51-seconds later.  Brooke Lafayette would tally twice and van Dyk notched another one to push the gap to 5-1.  Laird would eventually get rewarded for her persistence 12:49 to play when Madison Kasten set her up inside the circle for the finish.  The Lakers spent the final five minutes on the attack as FSU played a player down, but shots from Ava D'Amato, Shumsky and Blas did not hit the back of the cage for the 5-2 final.

Stat Pack
Shots – Hurst, 13 / FSU, 18
SOG – Hurst, 7 / FSU, 13
Penalty Corners – Hurst, 8 / FSU, 5
 
Words from Coach Randolph
"Today we had a second look at Frostburg and although we did not get the final score to end in our favor we were able to draw the most attacking penalty corners we have all spring." 
 
"We have some changes to make for tomorrow with a quick turn around but look forward to the opportunity to play a new team in the University of Rochester tomorrow to close out the spring."
 
On Deck
The Lakers will indeed close out the spring slate tomorrow afternoon when they take on the University of Rochester at The Nichols School in Buffalo, New York at 2:30pm.