Erie, Pa – Mercyhurst Women's Soccer is set to continue the PSAC Tournament with a match against West Chester this Friday, November 4th. The Lakers look to make it past the second round after falling last season and end a five-game losing streak to the Golden Rams as they try to keep their playoff hopes alive.
1. First Round
The Lakers defeated Slippery Rock in the PSAC quarterfinals on Tuesday after an intense match that ended with a score of 1-0. Amber Thomas netted the lone goal of the game in the 27th minute after a great pass from Karah Van Horn. Slippery Rock tried to tie the game multiple times, but Mercyhurst's defense prevailed thanks to a great effort and cautious play from the backline. The Lakers held onto the lead and advanced to the second round of PSAC playoffs for the second time in as many years.
2. Individual Leaders
Karah Van Horn leads the charge on the offensive side of the pitch with seven goals and she is helped by Emily Mijares and Lauren Casey with three goals each. Teagan Mehalko and Taryn Baxter also take a big part in the team's success as they both have two goals on the season. Thomas joined that group on Tuesday as she recorded a game-winning goal against the Rock and has two goals and two assists this year. Maddie Elbro has saved 58 shots in 18 games played, allowing only 15 goals all year.
3. Depth
15 players saw action in the matchup with Slippery Rock on Tuesday. Emily Mijares returned to action after an almost two-month absence caused by the knee contusion. In the limited minutes she spent on the field, she positively impacted a team with a couple of nice passes and good defense. Mercyhurst's coaching staff can trust multiple players and give them valuable minutes on the field and has decided to use more of their depth of late. That kind of utility is set to be the key to a good performance through a long season. 11 players have netted a goal for the Lakers this season, which is a testament to the team-oriented brand of soccer they play. Mercyhurst is looking to use that to their advantage as they try to overcome West Chester on Friday, November 4th, for the first time since 2013.
4. Team Success In Numbers
The Lakers come into the second round of PSAC playoffs with a 10-5-4 overall record. In 19 games played so far by the Lakers, they have scored 26 goals and only allowed 15. Mercyhurst plays with great effort and averages 14 shots per game with 56% of them on target. They have also drawn 129 corner kicks and turned many of them into scoring opportunities, along with other set pieces. The Lakers received 11 yellow cards this season, with two of them coming in the last matchup with Slippery Rock.
5. Scouting The Opponents
West Chester is coming into the Friday game with undefeated 17-0-1 record. They defeated East Stroudsburg in the first round of the PSAC Tournament and will be determined to extend their winning streak on Friday. The Rams are a balanced team with plenty of offensive options and well-organized defense. They have allowed only six goals so far this season and scored 47 times. Faith Matter, Kaitlyn Haughey and Jacqueline Hug lead the charge with seven goals each. West Chester's goalkeeper Hayley McGee recorded 73 saves and 12 clean sheets for the season.
