INDIANA, Pa. - The IUP women's lacrosse team (11-4, 8-2 PSAC) returns home and plays to Mercyhurst (11-4, 7-3 PSAC) to take on the Lakers this Wednesday. Game time is 4 p.m. The Crimson Hawks have won three straight, including a 17-0 victory over The Fighting Scots in Edinboro last Saturday. Mercyhurst has also won 3 straight games, including a close 9-8 victory over Lock Haven this weekend. 

LAST TIME
>> IUP defeated Edinboro on convincing fashion this past Saturday 17-0
>> The Crimson Hawks had 10 different goal scorers including a 3 goal game from Sarah Reustle. 
>> Senior Chloe Borland scored 6 assist.
>> Freshman Maggie Kilgallon had her first multi-goal games (2).

SEASON MATCHUP
>> Last time against Mercyhurst, The Crimson Hawks completed a 4th quarter comeback, trailing 7-11 with 6:35 left in the game.
>> IUP socred 5 straight in the final 4 minutes to win 12-11.
>> Emme Mass and Kathryn Burke both had 4 goals. 

REGIONAL RANKINGS DEBUT
>> The Crimson Hawks are No. 4 in the Atlantic in the NCAA's first regional rankings of the spring.
>> These rankings determine the NCAA's field of 16, with four teams from each region making the Division II tournament.
>> IUP is looking to make its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance.
>> Updated rankings will be posted Wednesday, April 27.

PSAC WEST RACE
>> IUP enters the weekend trailing Seton Hill by a half-game in the PSAC West standings. The Griffins are 9-2 while IUP is 8-2.
>> IUP has two games left - at home against Mercyhurst (11-4) and at Slippery Rock (9-6). Seton Hill has one remaining - Edinboro (2-13).
>> The Crimson Hawks have clinched a playoff spot, the program's ninth PSAC tournament berth, all coming since 2012.
>> The Hawks are seeking the program's first ever regular season conference title.

PLAYING "D"
>> The Hawks are fourth in the PSAC, 2nd in the division, with 11.93 caused turnovers per game. 
>> Opposing teams have turned the ball over 20+ times eight times this year, including the previous three games.
>> IUP is also 3nd in the PSAC, 1st in the division, with 22.33 ground balls per game. They're averaging 25.6 in the last five outings.
>> Seven Hawks have at least 20 ground ball pick ups, including Sarah Reustle with a team-best 36 GBs (2.4/game).