ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon-Mercyhurst rivalry is always an intense one. But the women's lacrosse intensity will reach new heights Thursday, April 21 when the two programs clash with huge post-season implications in the balance at Gannon University Field. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Live gameday statistics will be available at http://www.gannon.edu/athletics/women/lacro/lstats/XLIVE.HTM.

Gannon enters its regular-season finale with an 11-4-1 overall record and 7-3 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) mark. The Lady Knights, ranked 10th in the latest Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) national rankings, can clinch a PSAC Tournament berth and quarterfinal home match with a victory. The squad can also clinch a quarterfinal home match with a loss under a couple scenarios that include Bloomsburg defeating East Stroudsburg and several other factors.

Head coach Steve Wagner's club rides a season-high four-match win streak into Thursday's affair. It has reached double digits in victories seven consecutive seasons and has won at least 11 matches six straight years. Overall, the Lady Knights have produced a winning record every season during the program's 16-year history. A victory Thursday afternoon would give the squad its second consecutive post-season appearance.

Mary Eshenour (Waterloo, N.Y./Waterloo) headlines the Gannon offensive attack with 62 goals, eight assists and 70 points. The senior midfielder ranks second nationally in goals and 11th in points. Jess Fugate (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster) is second in scoring with 42 goals, 14 assists and 56 points.

Rachel DerCola (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) and Caitlyn Fisher (Cypress, Texas/Cy-Fair) have split the feeder role. DerCola has 24 goals and 30 assists while Fisher has added 29 goals and 17 assists.

Margaret Maslyn (Penn Yan, N.Y./Penn Yan Academy) has played every minute in goal, producing a 10.00 goals against average and .435 save percentage.

Mercyhurst, ranked 11th in the latest IWLCA national rankings, brings an 11-4 overall record and 6-3 conference mark into the rivalry contest. The Lakers conclude their regular season Saturday afternoon with a make-up contest against Indiana (Pa.). The Hurst can clinch a PSAC quarterfinal home match with victories in its last two contests or several other combinations involving other conference teams' losses. The squad has won three consecutive matches following a 17-1 loss to Lock Haven on April 9.

Kimberly Masterson and Ally Keirn have been the offensive leaders for the Lakers this season. Masterson leads the team in goals (48) and points (66). The senior midfielder ranks 15th among all NCAA Division II players in goals. Keirn runs the offensive sets with 29 goals, 35 assists and 64 points. The junior attacker is 12th nationally in assists.

Jenny Perkins provides one of the top goalie presences in the country. The junior ranks 12th among all NCAA Division II goalkeepers in save percentage (.486), 14th in goals against average (9.55) and 31st in saves per match (9.0).

Gannon leads the all-time series 12-5, including 6-3 advantage under Wagner. The Lady Knights advanced to the PSAC Final Four last season after a 15-9 victory at Mercyhurst in conference quarterfinals.

With the exception of Saturday's IUP-Mercyhurst make-up contest, the PSAC concludes its regular season Thursday. Match-ups include Mercyhurst at Gannon, Indiana (Pa.) at Lock Haven, Shippensburg at Millersville, Kutztown at West Chester, Bloomsburg at East Stroudsburg and Edinboro at Slippery Rock.

The top six teams will qualify for the PSAC Tournament with the top two teams receiving byes into the Final Four. The PSAC Quarterfinals are scheduled for Tuesday, April 26 with the third seed hosting the sixth seed and the fourth seed hosting the fifth seed. The PSAC regular-season champion will host the conference final four on Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30.