Indiana, Pa. - The Lakers traveled to IUP for a Saturday afternoon contest, looking to win their fourth straight road game. They were unable to do so after a late goal in the 90th minute by the Crimson Hawks led to a 1-1 tie to move Mercyhurst to 5-2-2 on the year.
How it Happened
The first half proved to be a back-and-forth affair for the most part. Neither team was able to find a major advantage to help them take control of the contest. The Lakers did manage to accumulate five corner kicks to IUP's zero while Maddie Elbro registered her season-high for saves in a half with six, barely overcoming her previous high of five which she recorded in the team's previous game against Gannon.
Despite neither team grabbing an advantage in the opening canto, the Lakers did manage to grab the lead. It was the graduate student Lauren Casey who helped give Mercyhurst their lone goal of the contest and ended up going solo for the score. Casey found herself in the midfield all alone before she streaked towards IUP's goal, weaving her way past a pair of defenders and sneaking one past the Crimson Hawk goalie to give the Lakers a 1-0 lead in the 31st minute.
The second half of play proved to look very similar to the first with both teams looking evenly matched. Both defenses tightened up during the final 45 minutes with both sides looking to protect the goal at all costs as both teams registered only three shots apiece. The ball stayed in the middle of the field through the majority of the second stanza as the Lakers and Crimson Hawks continued to battle for possession.
It wasn't until the final minute of the game that IUP was able to mount a strong attack against Mercyhurst. After winning possession in the midfield, the Crimson Hawks streaked towards the Laker goal with Isabelle Garzarelli knotting things up a 1-1 in the 90th minute off the pass from Hannah Scardina. Mercyhurst did all they could to try and pull off the last-second goal, but to no avail as they registered their second tie of 2022.
By the Numbers
Maddie Elbro finished with her season-high in saves for the second straight contest. After she saved six shots against Gannon earlier in the week, she rejected seven shots against the Crimson Hawks. The Lakers held a major advantage in corner kicks, doubling IUP's total as Mercyhurst finished with eight corners while the Crimson Hawks had only four.
What's Next
Mercyhurst returns home for their next two games as they are set to host Daemen University on Wednesday, September 28th with Clarion to follow on Friday. Both of those games are afternoon affairs with start times of 4:00 p.m.
