March 20, 2006

Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst sophomore outfielder David Lough and women's water polo senior utility player Cassie Rand are this week's male and female Athletes of the Week. Women's hockey was named Team of the Week.

After a pair of one-run losses Saturday at Concord (W.Va.), the Lakers rebounded with 13-3 and 14-8 victories at Salem International (W.VA.) Sunday. Lough led the charge with a six-for-nine performance, including a homerun, a triple, six runs-batted-in, five stolen bases, and five runs scored. Mercyhurst, 11-6 overall, will begin Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play next weekend with Saturday and Sunday doubleheaders against Ashland.

Rand scored 15 goals for Mercyhurst in a 3-2 week. She began the week with three goals, including the game-winner, in a 6-5 win over visiting Gannon. She concluded the week Sunday with four goals against Colorado College and five against Utica in a pair of matches played at Penn State Behrend. Rand leads the 4-5 Lakers with 24 goals.

Women's hockey continued to put Mercyhurst on the map despite a 2-1 double overtime loss at #2 Wisconsin Saturday night in an NCAA regional. The Lakers outshot the Badgers 38-35 only to bow for the second straight year in overtime in the Division I playoffs.