Lacrosse huddle 2021 Mercyhurst 031121
17
Winner Mercyhurst MER-W 1-0, 1-0 PSAC
3
Gannon GAN 0-1, 0-1 PSAC
Winner
Mercyhurst MER-W
1-0, 1-0 PSAC
17
Final
3
Gannon GAN
0-1, 0-1 PSAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Mercyhurst MER-W 8 9 17
Gannon GAN 1 2 3

Game Recap: Women's Lacrosse | | David Rung, Director of Athletics Media Relations

Lacrosse Opens 2021 Season With Setback To Mercyhurst

THE RUNDOWN
  • Final Score: No. 22 Mercyhurst 17, Gannon 3
  • Records: Gannon (0-1, 0-1 PSAC West) | Mercyhurst (1-0, 1-0 PSAC West)
  • Location: McConnell Family Stadium — Erie, Pa.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
KEY SEQUENCE
  • Gannon took the first lead of the game, and were right in it in a 2-1 game more than midway through the first half, but a 6-0 run out of Mercyhurst boosted it to a comfortable halftime lead as the guests pulled away to take the season opener.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Gannon got on the board first after the teams felt each other out for the first five minutes of the game. Rachel Tufts (Erie, Pa./McDowell) started the season the way she ended last year, charging downhill toward the crease and beating the goalie for the first goal of the game at the 24:37 mark.
  • The Golden Knights held the lead through a possession, but Mercyhurst answered about 90 seconds later with its first goal, and went up 2-1 just over 10 minutes into the game. Gannon nearly tied it up on a flurry of action in front, as a Tufts shot slid just wide and Christina Zeher's (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) follow-up was blocked by a defender.
  • Two goals on two straight possessions for the Lakers pushed the lead out to 4-1, and the margin bumped out to five after a shot from McKenna Woodworth (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads) was clipped by the Mercyhurst goalie to start things back the other way.
  • The visitors scored first in the second half to make it a 9-1 game, but the Knights answered with a score from Emma Ivory (Cranberry Township, Pa./North Catholic). That possession started with a save from Erin Renwick (Islip, N.Y./Islip), and Gannon got downfield, where Ivory forced a free position shot and converted just three minutes into the period.
  • After a lull of about four minutes, Mercyhurst netted three quick goals to build its lead, holding on until Gannon's McKenna Woodworth (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads) capped the scoring with a free position score with just under four minutes to play.

 
GAME NOTES
  • It was the first game in exactly a year for the Golden Knights, whose last game came against Lock Haven on March 11, 2020 before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Thursday was also the first season opener for Gannon at home since at least the 2003 season.
  • Tufts tallied 22 goals and five assists in just six games in 2020, leading the PSAC in goals and points. The junior has now scored in 10 consecutive games dating back to the 2019 season.
  • It was the first career goal for Woodworth, a freshman. It was also the first career goal for Ivory, a junior defender.
  • Ivory also posted three ground balls, two caused turnovers and two draw controls. Zeher led the team with four ground balls, while Tufts and Brooke Hepditch (Waterloo, Ontario/Resurrection Catholic) each had two caused turnovers.
 
UP NEXT
  • Gannon will hit the road for the first time for its only nonconference game on the schedule, heading to Roberts Wesleyan.
  • The 1 p.m. first draw from Rochester, New York, will feature live stats and live video.
  • Sunday will be just the second all-time meeting between the two teams. The Redhawks are ranked 23rd in the latest IWLCA coaches poll.
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