McKenna Woodworth
Bryce Dolak

Women's Lacrosse Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Match Preview: Golden Knights Conclude 2024 Campaign vs. Local Rivals Mercyhurst, Edinboro

MERCYHURST LAKERS (3-11, 2-8 PSAC West) at GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (4-11, 2-8 PSAC West)
DATE/TIME:  Tuesday, April 30, 2024 | 4:00 p.m.
FIELD/LOCATION:  McConnell Family Stadium l Erie, Pa.
LIVE VIDEO l LIVE STATS

GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS (4-11, 2-8 PSAC West) at EDINBORO FIGHTING SCOTS (2-13, 0-10 PSAC West)
DATE/TIME:  Friday, May 3, 2024 | 4:00 p.m.
FIELD/LOCATION:  Sox Harrison Stadium l Edinboro, Pa.
LIVE VIDEO l LIVE STATS
 
ERIE, Pa. – Gannon concludes the 2024 season with a pair of matches against local rivals in a span of four days this week. On Tuesday, April 30 the Golden Knights play for the final time at McConnell Family Stadium, hosting Mercyhurst. That match gets underway at 4:00 p.m. On Friday, May 3 the season winds to a close with a game at Edinboro also at 4:00 p.m.

The Golden Knights look to snap a four-game losing streak while facing the top four teams in the PSAC West. They come in with a 4-11 record and are 2-8 in PSAC play after dropping a 15-4 decision to Slippery Rock on April 24. In fact, Gannon's last victory came against Mercyhurst on April 10 by a 19-17 score. Wins in both games against their local rivals would give Gannon six wins, the most since 2016.

Gannon posted an inspiring rally in the first meeting with the Lakers. Trailing the entire match and behind 16-13 early in the fourth quarter, Gannon scored five straight goals for an 18-16 lead with just over three minutes remaining. Caroline Stevens (Syracuse, N.Y./Liverpool) gave Gannon the lead for good with 4:17 left to play and scored three times in the fourth period.

Stevens ended the match with six goals and an assist, in the process scoring her 100th career goal in the second quarter. The junior also tied the school record with 13 draw controls. Madyson Schwartz (Philadelphia, Pa./Franklin Towne Charter) added four goals.

In what may be the last meeting between the two crosstown rivals, Mercyhurst has a 3-11 record and is 2-8 in the PSAC West. The Lakers snapped a four-game losing streak with a 19-6 win over Edinboro on April 23 before suffering a 15-11 loss to Seton Hill on Saturday.   

McKenna Woodworth (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads) leads the Golden Knights in scoring with 46 points on 25 goals and 21 assists. The senior enjoyed one of the finest games of her stellar career recently against Edinboro, totaling three goals and eight assists for 11 points. She now has 139 career goals to move into 14th place in career goals.  

Stevens leads the team with 36 goals, adding nine assists, for 45 points. She also has a team-high 83 draw controls, a figure that ranks fifth in a season.
Madyson Schwartz (Philadelphia, Pa./Franklin Towne Charter) adds 25 goals and 3 assists for 28 points, while Charlie Hunter (Boston, N.Y./Hamburg) has 26 points on 19 goals and seven assists. Macy Hepditch (Waterloo, Ontario/Resurrection Catholic) has contributed 19 goals and an assist. Schwartz, a graduate transfer, recently reached 100 career goals including four seasons at Chestnut Hill.

Haleigh Manning (Milton, Ga./Cambridge) and Riley Finnegan (Oviedo, Fla./Oviedo) have shared time in goal. Manning has a 14.68 GAA with 81 saves while Finnegan comes in at a 14.71 GAA with 51 saves.

Mercyhurst features one of the top scorers in the PSAC in Whitley Easton. The sophomore has 35 goals and 21 assists for 56 points after contributing five goals and an assist on Saturday against Seton Hill. The Lakers trailed against the PSAC West's top team 12-5 at the half before pulling to within four goals in the second half.

Friday's match at Edinboro will also be the second of the season against the local rival. Gannon claimed the first meeting at McConnell Family Stadium on April 6 by a 17-10 score after leading 15-5 at the half. That was the match where Woodworth finished with three goals and eight assists.

Edinboro has a 2-13 record and is 0-10 in the PSAC West heading into a Wednesday contest at Slippery Rock. The Fighting Scots have lost their last eight matches.
 
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Players Mentioned

Riley Finnegan

#00 Riley Finnegan

GK
5' 8"
Sophomore
Applied Exercise Science
Macy Hepditch

#23 Macy Hepditch

MF
5' 7"
Senior
Biology/Pre-Med
Charlie Hunter

#6 Charlie Hunter

MF
5' 5"
Sophomore
Physician Assistant
Haleigh Manning

#31 Haleigh Manning

GK
5' 6"
Junior
Environmental Science
Caroline Stevens

#9 Caroline Stevens

MF
5' 9"
Junior
Physician Assistant
McKenna Woodworth

#1 McKenna Woodworth

A
5' 1"
Senior
Occupational Therapy
Madyson Schwartz

#19 Madyson Schwartz

MF
5' 5"
Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Riley Finnegan

#00 Riley Finnegan

5' 8"
Sophomore
Applied Exercise Science
GK
Macy Hepditch

#23 Macy Hepditch

5' 7"
Senior
Biology/Pre-Med
MF
Charlie Hunter

#6 Charlie Hunter

5' 5"
Sophomore
Physician Assistant
MF
Haleigh Manning

#31 Haleigh Manning

5' 6"
Junior
Environmental Science
GK
Caroline Stevens

#9 Caroline Stevens

5' 9"
Junior
Physician Assistant
MF
McKenna Woodworth

#1 McKenna Woodworth

5' 1"
Senior
Occupational Therapy
A
Madyson Schwartz

#19 Madyson Schwartz

5' 5"
Graduate Student
MF