COLUMBIA, MD – The Mercyhurst flag football team went 2-2 in a trip to Maryland for the first NCFFL Tournament of the season. The Lakers were victorious against Staten Island and Radford but dropped games to Villa Maria and Cortland.
 
GAME 1: VS STATEN ISLAND, 6-0 WIN, OT
It was a defensive battle for all four quarters of regulation between the Lakers and the Dolphins. Turnovers halted the Lakers offense early in the game, but the Mercyhurst defense stepped up, forcing multiple punts from the Dolphins.
 
The Lakers came up with a big red zone stop at the end of the first half, keeping the score even at zero.
 
Maria Osagie-Erese came up with a big play to start the second half for the Lakers. The freshman hauled in a short pass from Ellie Schau, dodging defenders to make her way to midfield. The Lakers couldn't convert on the drive, throwing an interception in the redzone.
 
Isabella Iaquinta immediately got the ball back for the Lakers, catching an interception and setting up the Lakers with a first and goal. Another turnover on third down, stopped the Lakers from gaining the advantage.
 
Both defenses stepped up in the dwindling minutes, sending it to overtime. The Lakers got the ball first in the extra time period. On fourth down, the Lakers found the endzone, as Osagie-Erese took a handoff from Schau into the endzone. The Lakers defense came up with a stop to earn the overtime win in the first game of the tournament.
 
GAME 2: VS CORTLAND, 13-6 LOSS

GAME 3: VS VILLA MARIA, 6-0 LOSS
It was a defensive back-and-forth in the first half, ending in a deadlock at zero after the first 24 minutes.
 
The second half was similar story with a pair of interceptions from Villa Maria and one from the Lakers.
 
The Vikings got on the board with a long throw into the endzone. The Vikings failed to convert on the extra point attempt, taking a 6-0 lead.
 
The Lakers tried to respond quickly, marching into the red zone. However, the Lakers couldn't get on the board before time expired, falling 6-0.
 
GAME 4: VS RADFORD, 26-0 WIN
The Lakers scored early and often in a 26-0 win over Radford.
 
On its first drive, Mercyhurst marched down the field, making it quickly into the redzone. Schau kept it for herself, sneaking into the endzone to give the Lakers their first score of the game. The extra point attempt was good, making it a 7-0 Lakers lead.
 
Mercyhurst came up with a fourth down stop around midfield, getting the ball back. However, an errant pass led to a Radford interception, holding the Mercyhurst lead at seven.
 
The Lakers forced a Radford punt on the ensuing drive, using the defensive stop wisely. Schau led the Lakers downfield, eventually making her way into the endzone for her second touchdown of the day. The following extra point attempt failed, giving the Lakers a 13-0 advantage.
 
After halftime, Schau found Iaquinta in the endzone, extending the Mercyhurst lead. The extra point attempt was again no good, but the Lakers lead was up to 19.
 
After a pair of forced punts, the Lakers offense capitalized once again. Schau found a darting JoAnna Saad who used her speed to beat the Radford defense and make it into the endzone. Schau ran in the extra point, extending the lead to the eventual final score of 26-0.
 
One final defensive stop, put the Lakers in victory formation, putting them at 2-2 for the tournament and 4-4 on the year.