Erie, PA—For the first time in 662 days the Mercyhurst Women's Soccer team will lace up their cleats this weekend as they will face Davis & Elkins on Saturday on the road.
Let's Play
It has been 662 days since the last championship season game for the Lakers as they closed out the 2019 season with a loss in first round of the PSAC Playoffs. Mercyhurst plays Davis & Elkins College on Saturday, for the first time since 2011. Mercyhurst leads the All-Time Series with a 5-0 record dating back to 2005, the Lakers have outscored the Senators 17-3 in the five matches.
Experienced Players Look to Lead
The Lakers have a mix of players that have experience in a championship season and players who have only played an exhibition schedule in the spring. Mercyhurst has 18 players who were on the roster in 2019 while having 24 players who came to campus last year or are new to Mercyhurst this season.
Five of the six top scorers from 2019 are back with the Lakers. Alyssa Otto (14 G, 4 A), Cristy Senskey (5 G, 1 A), Lauren Casey (3 G, 3 A), Amber Thomas (3 G, 2 A), and Taryn Baxter (2 G, 3 A) all look to improve and be leaders for a Laker squad that went 4-1-3 in the spring.
Who Will Be in Net?
Head Coach Jon Arlet has not announced who will start in net for the Lakers. None of the Laker goalies have played in a championship season. Ali Bakowski provides the most experience as the lone upperclassmen keeper on the roster. Maddie Elbro and Kaitlyn Low both joined the team last year as freshman, both saw time in net during the spring exhibition schedule.
Humble and Hungry
In the annual preseason PSAC Coach's Poll the Lakers were tabbed for second in the PSAC West which was their highest ranking since 2009. "It just pushes us more as a whole, especially the incoming freshman. Knowing how well we did and how well we can do this season, it pushes us as a whole and helps us know we are good enough to get to that point" Otto explained.
Scouting Davis & Elkins
The Senators will also be opening their season on Saturday. Like Mercyhurst, Davis & Elkins played a shorten spring season as they went 3-4-1 with wins over Glenville State and two wins over Alderson Broaddus. Dean Johnson leads the Senators, he enters his second season as manager and his first year as the Director of Soccer.
Up Next
Mercyhurst starts PSAC West play on Sept. 8 as they host Edinboro at 4 PM. The Lakers have one non-conference game remaining against Daemen on Sept. 11.
