NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Mercyhurst fell to Sacred Heart 2-0 on Saturday, despite a strong defensive effort that kept the game close throughout.

The first quarter saw both teams striving to establish control, but neither Mercyhurst nor Sacred Heart managed to break through defensively. Goalkeeper Louise Pert was pivotal early on, turning away several Sacred Heart shots to maintain a scoreless draw. Despite several fouls committed by the Lakers, they held firm defensively, with key penalty corners by Jen Kemp late in the quarter. The period ended 0-0.

In the second quarter, Mercyhurst faced a challenging defensive stretch as Sacred Heart pressed with multiple penalty corners. Pert made several crucial saves to keep Sacred Heart at bay until late in the quarter, when the hosts finally broke through to take a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.

The third quarter saw the Lakers' defense tested again by sustained Sacred Heart pressure. Pert continued to anchor the back line with a series of key saves, preventing Sacred Heart from extending its advantage. The quarter ended with Mercyhurst still trailing 1-0.

In the final quarter, Mercyhurst pushed to equalize. Pert remained strong in net, denying several more Sacred Heart attempts, while the Lakers generated offensive chances through penalty corners led by Finja Wunner and shots by Alyssa Laubach. However, Sacred Heart added an insurance goal midway through the quarter, and Mercyhurst was unable to respond.

Next, Mercyhurst returns home for its final home game of the season on October 28, hosting D'Youville at 1:00 PM. The matchup will also serve as the team's Breast Cancer Awareness Game.