Video Highlights
Location: Erie, Pa. | Carneval Athletic Pavilion
Score: Mercyhurst 11, at Gannon 9
Records: Gannon (2-9), Mercyhurst (10-7)
The Short Story: The Gannon women's water polo team was edged by rival Mercyhurst, 11-9, Friday evening at the Carneval Athletic Pavilion Pool. Falling behind by a three-goal deficit in the first quarter, the Lady Knights were unable to tie the match despite coming to within one of the Lakers six times throughout the final three quarters. Freshman Alison Cooney (Erie, Pa. / Villa Maria Academy) led the Lady Knights with four goals followed by junior Shanen Lazenby (Erie, Pa. / McDowell) with three goals. Sophomore Emily Rodriguez (Erie, Pa. / Villa Maria Academy) collected 14 blocks.
SCORES BY QUARTER (1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - TOTAL)
Gannon (1 - 3 - 1 - 4 - 9)
Mercyhurst (4 - 2 - 1 - 4 - 11)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Mercyhurst captured a 4-1 lead in the first quarter. Gannon's tally came from Cooney with 3:13 remaining in the opening quarter. The goal was Cooney's first of four on the evening.
- Junior Rachel Bednarek (Windermere, Fla. / Olympia) and Lazenby strung together back-to-back goals in the second quarter to pull the Lady Knights to within one, 4-3, with 5:12 remaining.
- The Lakers answered back with two goals to double up on the Lady Knights, 6-3. The Lady Knights' Lazenby scored the final goal of the first half to trail the Lakers, 6-4, heading into the break.
- Exchanging a goal each in third quarter, Lazenby scored her third and final goal of the evening to open the third quarter, limiting the Lakers' lead to 6-5. A strike by the Lakers kept their two-goal lead intact with 2:18 remaining in the third.
- The opening minute of the fourth quarter featured a flurry of goals. Three goals were exchanged in the process, including two from the Lady Knights. Cooney started the stretch with 7:38 remaining in regulation. The Lakers came right back just 13 seconds later with freshman Francesca Williamson (Chicago, Ill. / Mother McAuley Liberal Arts) muscling her way to the front of the goal.
- Cooney moved the Lady Knights to within one of the Lakers twice in the closing five minutes and 30 seconds. With 3:55 remaining, Cooney scored her fourth goal of the evening to put the score at 10-9. In the closing minute, the Lakers sealed the 11-9 win with just 52 seconds remaining.
MATCH NOTES
- Cooney led the Lady Knights' offense with four goals followed by Lazenby with three. Bednarek and Williamson each tallied a goal.
- Sophomore Christine Uht (Erie, Pa. / Villa Maria Academy) collected two assists.
- Senior Janelle McDaniels (Edwardsville, Pa. / Wyoming Valley West) registered nine steals with Cooney adding four.
- Emily Rodriguez recorded 14 blocks.
GANNON GOALS (16)
Alison Cooney (4)
Shanen Lazenby (3)
Rachel Bednarek (1)
Francesca Williamson (1)
GANNON BLOCKS (14)
Emily Rodriguez (14)
UP NEXT
Gannon returns to action at the Carneval Athletic Pavilion Saturday for the second day of the Gannon Tournament against a pair of NCAA Division I opponents. The Lady Knights open the day against Hartwick at 3 p.m. followed by Bucknell at 8 p.m.
