Aug. 30, 2006

Stats

Marquette, Mich. - If opposing coaches weren't having nightmares before the season started trying to figure out how to stop Mercyhurst forwards Lisa Casement and Sarah Powell, the first three Mercyhurst women's soccer matches will certainly give them reason to fret now. Casement and Powell scored two goals each against Northern Michigan Wednesday as the Lakers rolled to a 5-1 victory in the GLIAC opener for both schools.

Casement, who was named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2005, and Powell have combined for seven goals this season as the Lakers now appear to have things rolling after a 2-1 season opening defeat to Quincy. Two early goals against Wheeling Jesuit sparked the team to a 3-0 win a day later and the 5-1 thrashing of Northern Michigan has the Lakers once again on track with preseason expectations.

Northern Michigan entered the game with an unblemished 2-0 record and had yet to even allow a goal, but that changed quickly against the Lakers. Casement and Powell scored first half goals that put Mercyhurst ahead 2-0 at the break and Powell's second goal late in the second half started a five minute flurry of offense for both teams. When Powell scored the goal that put the Lakers ahead 3-0 with just over 10 minutes to play, things looked secure.

But Northern Michigan's Amanda Gadomski scored only 22 seconds later to negate Powell's score. But three minutes after that, Casement scored her second goal and senior Maria Amicone scored her first career goal 63 seconds later to put the final touches on an important conference opening victory.

Mercyhurst held a 15-3 advantage in shots on goal and took 10 corner kicks, five more than Northern Michigan. Rebecca Heintzman made two saves in goal for the Lakers, playing all 90 minutes.

Mercyhurst (2-1, 1-0 GLIAC) will host Davis and Elkins in its home opener Friday at 2 p.m. That begins a nine-match homestand for the Lakers.