ERIE, Pa. – For the first time since 2016 the second-seeded Mercyhurst women's lacrosse team will play under the lights as they welcome the third seed Indiana University of Pennsylvania Crimson Hawks to Saxon Stadium for a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament Quarterfinal on Saturday night.  It will be the second time in four days that these teams will square off in Erie after the Lakers 15-12 victory on Wednesday afternoon. 
 
Game Information
Opponents – IUP Crimson Hawks
Date - Saturday, May 1
Time - 7:00 pm
Location – Erie, Pa. (Saxon Stadium)
Series History – Lakers lead, 23-4 / Last Lakers Win: 15-12 on 4/28/21 (home) / Last IUP Win: 11-6 on 4/3/21 (home).
Fan Statement – For the first time fans from both teams will be allowed inside Saxon Stadium.  See the fan policy here.
Live Stats
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First Meeting – IUP 11, LAKERS 6 (4/3/21)
Mercyhurst started the game extremely slow as Molly Meegan provided the Lakers only offense through the first 29-minutes of the contest as the home team jumped out to a 6-1 lead.  Julia Ruscio would add her first of three on the day with 14-seconds remaining in half number one to head to the breakdown 6-2.  IUP came out of the rest firing on all cylinders as they tallied two more times, before Ruscio buried her second cutting it to 8-3.  Both teams would score three more times with Gabby McGinn and Sarah Kaska joining Ruscio on the scoresheet, but it was not enough as the Hawks held on for the 11-6 win.
 
Second Meeting – LAKERS 15, IUP 12 (4/28/21)
Mercyhurst took the early lead just 26-seconds in through Ruscio.  IUP pulled the goal back thanks to Jordan Kulp, but then Payton Cook buried two straight for a 3-1 lead.  The Crimson Hawks answered back with a 4-0 run with Kulp making it 5-3.  Rachel Hirst, Molly Meegan and Victoria Gottorff each tallied unassisted to reclaim the advantage.  Julia Rescott, Marissa Comerate, Paige Cocina and Gottorff continued the Lakers offensive output in the first half as they led 10-7 through 30-minutes.  IUP came out of the break strong scoring four of the first five goals of the period with Hirst adding the only home marker to tie things at 11-11.  Mercyhurst then seized control as Cook, Rescott, and Ruscio scored three straight, and Hirst finished the scoring with 67-seconds left for the 15-12 final.   

Scouting the Lakers (9-3, 7-3 PSAC West)
Dynamic Duo
Rescott and Ruscio continued to lead the Green and Blue attack adding six more points on Wednesday through four goals and two helpers raising the joint point production to 62 on the season.  Rescott paces the side in scoring the ball with 29 markers on the season, while Ruscio is not too far behind tallying 26 times for the campaign.  They have also chipped in seven assists as a duo. 
 
Balanced Offense
The Lakers got hat tricks on Wednesday from Cook and Hirst.  For Hirst it was her first collegiate hat trick.  Gottorff, Rescott and Ruscio also provided a spark with each of them notching two goals.  Cocina, Comerate and Meegan all chipped in a marker on Wednesday afternoon.     

Givin' McGinn
McGinn was once again limited to one-point against the Hawks on Wednesday  She continues to build on a strong rookie campaign as her 41 points continue to be tops on the team.  Her 30 assists leads the PSAC and puts her 12th in the country, while the 2.50 assists per game is good for 16th nationally as well as second in the conference. 

Between the Pipes
Kaitlyn Lippert remained busy in cage on Saturday as she posted her fifth consecutive double-digit save game in a row and her eighth of the year making 11 stops in the win.  In 660:00 minutes played this year she has a 9.84 goals against average to go along with a .528 save percentage on 121 saves.  Raelyn Tiberio picked up the other win in cage for the Lakers this season making eight stops in the 18-7 win against D'Youville. 

Not Letting Things Come Easy
Mercyhurst was near perfect on Wednesday in the clear game going 14-15, while IUP went 12-14.  Against the Crimson Hawks this year the Green and Blue are 28-32, while IUP is 31-36.  On the season, Mercyhurst is 196-230 for an .852 percentage with their opponents completing 181 of 241 clears (.751).

Draw Controls by Committee
Mercyhurst won the battle at the circle 19-10 on Wednesday.  Ruscio led the way with 11 victories, while Cocina nabbed five.  Comerate and Meegan combined for three.  Against the Crimson Hawks for the season the Lakers have won 32 of 48 draws.    
Stat Pack
As a team they have recorded 372 shots with 289 of them going on goal for a .777 shots on goal percentage.  They have scooped up 214 ground balls and forced 112 of their opponents 196 turnovers. 
 
NCAA Ranks (as of 4/29)
Lippert ranks inside the Top-25 in total saves (11^th – 121), ground balls per game (22^nd – 3.36), saves per game (14^th – 11.00) and save percentage (9^th - .528).

In The Nest (6-5, 6-4 PSAC West)
The Crimson Hawks come back to Saxon Stadium for their fourth game in six days after playing Gannon (Mon), Mercyhurst (Wed), Lock Haven (Thurs.) and now the Lakers again.  IUP secured their birth in the PSAC Tournament with a hard fought 14-13 overtime win on Thursday at Lock Haven thanks to Chantal Jimenez 19^th goal of the season.  Jordan Kulp led the attack against the Bald Eagles scoring four times and recording six points.  She also had a massive day on Wednesday in Erie posting nine points in the loss to the Lakers.  Mercyhurst will also have to be on the lookout for goal scoring leader Kayte Zeiler who has 29, followed by Leah Hunter (21), Jimenez (19) and Sarah Reustle (13).  At the circle the Hawks rely on a three-headed monster led by 59 wins for Jimenez, while Reustle and Zeiler have chipped in 47 and 25 respectively.  Between the pipes Kelly Macnamara has started the last four games posting a 3-1 record with a 10.97 goals against average and 29 saves.  On Wednesday, she made eight saves versus the Lakers, before turning aside eight Lock Haven attempts a day later.  Brenna Gallagher is at the head of Crimson Hawks nest for the third season.   

On Deck
The winner of this game will head to top-seeded Seton Hill University on Wednesday for a trip to the PSAC Championship game on the line.