March 30, 2008

Box Score

Annapolis, Md. - The No.8 Mercyhurst Lakers women's lacrosse team pulled out a 12-11 victory against Belmont Abbey Sunday. The Lakers led 9-4 at halftime before the Crusaders fought back to tie the game at ten with five minutes left in regulation. Breanna Haggerty led the Lakers with four goals as well as the game winner with two minutes left. Mercyhurst is currently on a five game consecutive win streak and is 8-2 overall. With the win, Mercyhurst has now passed their win total from the 2007 season.

In the first half, both teams played a fast paced transition game looking for the fast break on offense. Haggert weaved through the Crusader defense to score three of her four goals in the first half. She also got help from her offensive couterparts as six different players tallied goals.

In the second half, Belmont Abbey stepped up its presence on the draw and slowly started cutting down the 9-4 Laker lead from halftime. After the Crusaders tied the game at 10 with five minutes left, Courtney Olevnik put the Lakers up by one by finishing an 8 minute opportunity with three minutes left. Haggerty then added the insurance goal with two minutes left. Belmont Abbey tallied one more goal to pull within one with 48 seconds on the board. The Crusaders won the ensuing draw but could not finish on the opportunity.

Defensively, goalkeeper Maeve McGoff had another game-controlling performance with 15 saves in the game including 10 in the second half. Freshman Maggie Yackel led Mercyhurst on the defensive side of the ball with two caused turnovers and three ground balls. Beth O'Neil and Elizabeth Wagner also scooped up two groundballs and two draw controls a piece to contribute in the win.

Olevnik finished with three goals in the contest and Jessie Horeth contributed one goal and dished out two assists. Alicia Guzzo, Elizabeth Tice, Kimberly Masterton, and Page Christensen each added one goal.

The Belmont Abbey Crusaders fall to 7-5 overall with the loss.

After three games in four days, Mercyhurst will now have two weeks off before hosting St. Andrews on April 12th. Game time is set for 3 p.m.