Box Score

INDIANA, PA – Kate Bruce (Clarks Summit/Lackawanna Trail) scored two goals for IUP but three goals from Mercyhurst in the second half alone was enough as the Crimson Hawks fell 3-2 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) field hockey action on Saturday.

Bruce's first goal was the lone score in the first half as the Crimson Hawks took the lead in the 13th minute.

IUP owned possession for most of the opening half, outshooting the Lakers 7-0 and racking up 10 corners compared to just one by Mercyhurst.

The Lakers tied the score a little less than 14 minutes into the second half as Meghan Smith nailed a shot from 15 yards out. They took the lead just 12 minutes later when Kelsey Lovelace picked up a deflection off the stick of Smith and knocked one in.

It didn't take long for the Crimson Hawks to tie the score, with Bruce grabbing a deflection off a shot by Chelsea Wanamaker (Oley, Pa./Oley Valley) and finding the back of the cage in the 64th minute.

Mercyhurst, however, grabbed that final score of the game when Tracey Mason scored with 9:30 remaining.

The Lakers nearly took a two-goal lead two minutes later but Casey McGowan (Chalfont, Pa./Central Bucks South) came up big with a defensive save on the edge of the goal line.

The Crimson Hawks had four penalty corners and six shots in the final 6:18, with three of those shots coming with time expired, but Mercyhurst goalie Jess Wess came up big to preserve the Lakers' win.

IUP falls to 3-9 overall, 1-4 in the PSAC while Mercyhurst moves to 5-6 and 1-3.

The Crimson Hawks are on the road this Tuesday, traveling to Mansfield to take on the Mountaineers who they lost to 2-1 in overtime earlier this season. Game time is set for 3 p.m.