Box Score

Grove City, Pa. - For the first time this month, Mercyhurst women's water polo got back in the pool as they took on Grove City. The team made the trip to see the Wolverines Saturday afternoon with the Lakers coming away with a 17-7 win, using a strong opening period of play to help them come away with the win.

How it Happened

Mercyhurst came out firing on all cylinders and were able to grab a lead by the end of the opening period of play, 7-1. It was not any one Laker doing all the work as six different players scored with five having one apiece while Rachel Vlietstra had two to lead the team. Their strong early offense coupled with a stout defense made for a lead that they would never relinquish.

The second quarter was much more even with each team scoring three times. For Mercyhurst, it was Sakura Gavin who did most of the work on offense. After she scored once in the opening period of play, Gavin came back with two more in the second to help her team keep pace with their counterpart and hold a 10-4 lead at the halftime break.

Defense was once again the strong suit for Mercyhurst in the second half with them allowing three goals in the entirety of the final 16 minutes. They allowed only two goals in the third while their effort on that side of the pool only got stronger as the day went along, giving up just one score in the final period of play. The gameplay of sharing the ball was one that worked during the opening half and the team went back to that in the third and fourth quarters as no one Laker score more than once in either period.

Highlights 

Sakura Gavin led the way for the Lakers in goals with four to her line with her two in the second period being only one of two instances in which a Lakers scored multiple times in a quarter's joining Vlietstra. Allie Dombkowski and Grace Brzyski followed Gavin in goals with the Laker pairing each having two apiece, making for a well-rounded effort.

Next Game

The team gets back to work this upcoming weekend when they go to Lebanon, Ill. to compete in the WWPA Conference Crossover hosted by McKendree. The team being with Salem on Saturday, March 23rd, in a 12:00 p.m. matchup before seeing Gannon the same day at 6:00 p.m. before routing out their time the following day against McKendree at 10:00 a.m.