May 8, 2008

The Mercyhurst sports information department selected their top 10 stories from the 2007-08 athletic season. They are listed below:

10. Fireworks On Tullio - Mercyhurst football team defeats Wayne State 58-50 in triple overtime
During a season in which the Mercyhurst football team shattered program records on offense, the Lakers lit up the scoreboard in an amazing victory over Wayne State at Tullio Field. Mercyhurst came back from a 21-3 deficit to take a fourth quarter lead and then finally got the game-winning score on a Brandon Hill touchdown reception in the third overtime.

Game story

9. Milestones - Coaches Piling Up The Wins
Five Mercyhurst coaches won milestone victories during the 2007-08 season. Men's hockey coach Rick Gotkin picked up his 350th victory in his 20-year Mercyhurst career, baseball head coach Joe Spano won his 250th career game, women's hockey coach Mike Sisti got his 200th career victory, men's basketball coach Gary Manchel also won game number 200, and softball coach Sara Headley won her 100th game. Combined, the five coaches are 1142-835-73 all-time.

Men's Hockey game story
Baseball game story
Women's Hockey game story
Men's Basketball game story
Softball game story

8. Triple Winner - Cherie Jackson Becomes First Cross Country Runner To Win Three Races
Cherie Jackson outraced the field by 42 seconds to become the first freshman in Mercyhurst history to win an event by placing first at the Allegheny College Classic. But she was only getting started as she took first place at each of the next two events as well. She was also the first Mercyhurst runner to be named GLIAC Runner of the Week.

Cherie Jackson Bio

7. Exploring New Ground - Women's Water Polo Team Qualifies For Eastern Championship
Following a third-place finish at the CWPA Western Division Championship, the Mercyhurst women's water polo team was selected to its first Eastern Championship, becoming the first Division II team since the field was contracted to eight teams in 2004. The Lakers finished with 14 wins, one shy of the school record.

Eastern Championship Selection Story
Eastern Championship Match One
Eastern Championship Match Two
Eastern Championship Match Three

6. Legendary - Terry Smith Ends Career Among All-Time Mercyhurst Greats
In four standout seasons with the men's basketball team, Terry Smith became one of the most accomplished players in school history. He totaled 1,364 points to rank sixth on the all-time scoring list, but he wasn't only a scorer. He finished his career ranked fourth in steals and 10th in assists. Smith also set or tied four other Mercyhurst records and, as a senior, was named All-GLIAC South Division First Team and GLIAC South Division All-Defensive Team.

Terry Smith Bio

5. New Blood - Freshmen Win Rookie Of The Year Honors
Four Mercyhurst freshmen made immediate impacts in 2007-08 and were named their conference Rookie of the Year. Women's hockey player Vicki Bendus was named College Hockey America Rookie of the Year, while men's tennis player Tim Hansson and women's basketball player Amy Achesinski were both named GLIAC Freshman of the Year in their respective sports. As well, water polo player Rachel Griepsma was named CWPA Western Division Rookie of the Year.

Bendus Named Rookie of the Year
Hansson Named Freshman of the Year
Achesinski Named Freshman of the Year
Griepsma Named Rookie of the Year

4. Improbable Run - Men's Hockey Team Advances To Conference Championship
After grinding to the No. 5 seed in the Atlantic Hockey Conference Tournament, the Mercyhurst men's hockey team put it all together in the postseason. The Lakers swept Canisius in two games to open the conference tournament and then dispatched of No. 4 seed Sacred Heart in the Final Five. In the semifinals, Mercyhurst stunned top-seeded Army 4-2 to advance to the championship game. In a heart-stopping contest against Air Force, Mercyhurst lost a double-overtime thriller 5-4 to conclude its season.

Canisius Game 1 Story
Canisius Game 2 Story
Sacred Heart Story
Army Story
Air Force Story

3. Playoff Winner - Women's Soccer Advances To NCAA Second Round; Almost Knocks Off No. 1 Grand Valley State
After a strong 14-4-2 regular season, the Mercyhurst women's soccer team headed into the NCAA Playoffs with a tall task ahead of them. The Lakers reached the second round with a 1-0 victory over Quincy, a team that had beaten Mercyhurst in overtime earlier in the season, only to meet No. 1 Grand Valley State. Mercyhurst officially tied Grand Valley State 1-1, but after two overtime sessions could not determine a winner, the team came up just short in penalty kicks.

Quincy Story
Grand Valley State Story

2. All-American - Hudson Harrison Finishes As National Runner-Up In Fourth Trip To NCAA's
Wrestler Hudson Harrison had been to the NCAA Championships in each of his first three years as a Laker but All-American status had eluded him in each of those trips. In his final chance, Harrison not only became an All-American, but was national runner-up at 165 pounds.

Opening Rounds Story
Semifinal Story
Championship Story

1. Scoring Sensations - Three Females Sit Atop National Scoring Leaderboard
Mercyhurst fans got plenty of opportunities to see the best talent in the country this year and most of it came in women's sports. Hockey player Meghan Agosta, lacrosse player Breanna Haggerty, and water polo player Rachel Griepsma were the most prolific scorers in the country. When the dust cleared, Agosta sat at the top of the Division I leaders in goals per game, Griepsma led all of Division I and II in goals per game, and Haggerty led Division II in the same category.

Meghan Agosta Bio
Breanna Haggerty Bio
Rachel Griepsma Bio