INDIANA, Pa. – The 23^rd-ranked Mercyhurst women's lacrosse team was not able to get their offense going on Saturday afternoon as they were limited to a season-low six goals in their 11-6 setback to the Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division play at Miller Stadium.

IUP wasted little time getting on the board as Kayte Zeiler won the opening draw leading to Chantal Jimenez beating Kaitlyn Lippert for the 1-0 lead 59-seconds in.  Zeiler would finish off a feed from Jordan Kulp to make it 2-0, before the Lakers had even recorded a shot.  Peyton Cook earned the first attempt for Mercyhurst at the 6:50 mark but was turned away by Lauren Piecknick.  IUP kept up the pressure and eventually pushed it to 3-0 at the halfway point.  The visitors would strike with 12:09 to go as Molly Meegan took advantage of a free position attempt.  However, the Crimson Hawks scored three more times, before Julia Ruscio got her first of three on the day to cut the deficit to 6-2 at halftime. 

The home team picked up right where they left off with Leah Hunter extending the margin to 7-2 with 2:13 gone in the second.  Paige Cocina, Meghan Nasman and Ruscio accounted for six straight shots on goal, unfortunately three went wide while three were denied by Piecknick.  IUP used that energy to add another one, prior Ruscio notching her second making it 8-3 with 17:32 left.  Over the next seven minutes the Lakers tried valiantly to get back into the with Gabby McGinn and Ruscio testing Piecknick multiple times, but not cashing in.  Leah Hunter and McGinn would exchange goals later in the half allowing IUP to maintain a cushion of 9-4.  Sarah Kaska and Ruscio each tallied for the Lakers down the stretch, however it was not enough as IUP also netted two more for the 11-6 final.

Team Stat Pack
Shot Attempts - Hurst, 21 / IUP, 24 
Shots on Goal - Hurst, 17 / IUP, 20
Clears - Hurst, 14-17 / IUP, 19-22
Draw Controls - Hurst, 13 / IUP, 6
Ground Balls - Hurst, 20 / IUP, 21
Turnovers - Hurst, 19 / IUP, 16
Free-Position Attempts - Hurst, 1-3 / IUP, 1-3

Mercyhurst Individual Stat Leaders
Points – Ruscio (4)
Goals - Ruscio (3)
Assists – Cocina and Ruscio (1)
Draw Controls – Ruscio (7), Comerate (3)
Saves - Lippert (9)

Inidana (Pa.) Individual Stat Leaders
Goals – Hunter (3) 
Draw Controls – Zeiler (3)
Saves - Piecknick (11)

On Deck 
The Lakers will look to get back to their winning ways on Tuesday afternoon when they host Gannon University at 4pm.