ERIE, Pa. – The No. 23 Mercyhurst women's lacrosse team will look to build on their 16-11 win on Saturday afternoon over Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference action when they head down I-79 to battle the Indiana University of Pennsylvania this weekend.
Game Information
Opponents – IUP Crimson Hawks
Date - Saturday, April 3
Time - 1:00 pm
Location – Indiana, Pa. (Miller Stadium)
Series History vs IUP - Lakers leads, 22-3 / Last Lakers Win: 20-15 on 3/19/19 (away) / Last IUP Win: 11-7 on 4/12/16 (home).
Fan Statement – All fans are being allowed at Miller Stadium. Fans are reminded to wear masks at all times, maintain social distancing and keep away from student-athletes.
Live Stats
Scouting the Lakers (5-1, 3-1 PSAC West)
The Dynamic Duo
The pair of
Julia Rescott and
Julia Ruscio have accounted for a combined 36 points on 33 goals through six games so far this season. Rescott paces the team with 20, while Ruscio has buried the rock 13 times. They have also added three helpers.
Balanced Offense
Eight players tallied goals on Saturday led by four from Rescott.
Payton Cook,
Gabby McGinn,
Molly Meegan,
Torie Sullivan and Ruscio each chipped in a pair. Both
Lauren Cain and
Paige Cocina netted one.
Givin' McGinn
In addition to her two goals against the Bald Eagles, McGinn handed out another four assists in the win to run her season total up to 22 which is good for seventh in the country. She also ranks third in the nation in assists per game at 3.67.
Between the Pipes
Kaitlyn Lippert made eight saves in the win on Saturday pushing her record to 4-1 on the season. She has a 10.20 goals against average thanks to a .505 save percentage making 52 total stops. Raelyn Tiberio picked up the other win in cage this season making eight stops for Hurst in the 18-7 win over D'Youville on March 14th.
Not Letting Things Come Easy
The Lakers went 16-19 on clears against LHU, while the Bald Eagles were 21-24 in the losing effort. On the season, Mercyhurst is 102-120 for an .850 percentage with their opponents going 87-123 (.707).
Draw Controls by Committee
Mercyhurst righted the ship at the circle over the weekend claiming 20-28 draw controls versus LHU. Ruscio won a game-high 10, followed by four each from Cocina and Meegan.
Kiera Boettcher notched two wins as well.
Stat Pack
As a team they have recorded 205 shots with 160 of them going on goal for a .780 shots on goal percentage. They have scooped up 110 groundballs and forced 63 of their opponents 108 turnovers.
NCAA Ranks (as of 3/24)
Lippert ranks inside the Top-20 in ground balls per game (13
th – 4.00), saves per game (17
th – 10.40) and save percentage (19
th - .505).
In The Nest (2-2, 2-1 PSAC West)
IUP enters Saturday's contest with a mark of 2-2 overall and 2-1 in the PSAC West. They are coming off a thrilling 12-11 overtime win against Lock Haven their last time out on March 20
th. IUP has three players that have posted double-digit points so far this season led by Jordan Kulp with 19, followed by Kayte Zeiler (14) and Leah Hunter (10). When it comes to burying the rock Zeiler paces the group netting 12, while Kulp sits in second on the team with nine. The trio of Katie Hibinger, Chantal Jimenez and Sarah Reustle have combined for 33 ground balls with each of them scooping up 11. At the circle the Lakers will need to slowdown the pair of Jimenez and Reustle who have racked up 40 of their team's 53 draw control wins. In cage Lauren Piecknick has made all four starts for the Crimson Hawks so far posting an 11.11 goals against average on a .531 save percentage thanks to 51 saves. Brenna Gallagher is at the head of the nest for the third season.
On Deck
Mercyhurst returns to Saxon Stadium on Tuesday afternoon at 4pm when they welcome crosstown rival Gannon University.
