ERIE, Pa. – Tough second-half defense, four goals by Caroline Stevens (Syracuse, N.Y./Liverpool), and a go-ahead goal by Grace Cunningham (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) led the Gannon University women's lacrosse team to a 10-9 victory over rival Mercyhurst on Wednesday afternoon.

Gannon outscored Mercyhurst 5-3 in the second half after trailing 6-5 at halftime of the game at the Lakers' Saxon Stadium.

Gannon improved to 3-8 overall and 3-3 in the PSAC West after beating an Erie County rival on the road for the second straight game. GU defeated Edinboro 20-4 on Saturday.

Haleigh Manning (Milton, Ga./Cambridge) made 13 saves to collect the victory in goal for Gannon. The sophomore has posted two wins in a row to improve her record to 2-3.

BIG SECOND HALF

The Lakers outscored the Golden Knights 4-3 in the second period to take a one-goal halftime lead. Gannon opened the second half by getting a quick tying goal from Stevens at the 13:50 mark. That was the last of four goals for Stevens, who collected a hat trick in the first half.

Stevens, a sophomore midfielder, led Gannon with six shots and tied Charlie Hunter (Boston, N.Y./Hamburg) with a team-best four draw controls.

McKenna Woodworth (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads) scored with 5:59 left in the third to give GU a 7-6 lead before Alyssa Lerch (Coraopolis, Pa./Moon Area) increased the lead to 8-6 by scoring at the 2:37 mark.

As Gannon's defense clamped down, Mercyhurst didn't score its initial second-half goal until Maggie Newton struck with 56 seconds left in the period to trim the lead to 8-7.

FINAL PERIOD SCRAMBLE

After Mercyhurst tied the game 8-8 early in the fourth quarter, Alli Jacobs (Eden, N.Y./Eden) put Gannon ahead 9-8 at the 8:25 mark.

Mercyhurst's Whitley Easton then tied the score at 9 with 7:49 to go. However, that was the last time Mercyhurst scored in the game thanks to a smothering Gannon defense.

The score stayed tied until the 5:51 mark when Hunter sprinted behind the goal and found Grace Cunningham (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) cutting down the left side in front of the net. Cunningham used a quick release on her shot to get the ball low past the Mercyhurst goalie.

Hunter, who also scored a goal, was credited with her first assist of the season on Cunningham's 10th goal.

Manning had two saves down the stretch to preserve the win.

GANNON SCORING

Stevens now has 20 goals on the season, ranking second on the team to Woodworth's 23. Stevens leads the Knights with 29 points and is tied for the team lead with nine assists.

Woodworth was one of six players to score one goal, as she joined Cunningham, Hunter, Lerch, Jacobs, and Angie George (Brecksville, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban) in the scoring column.