Offensive Outburst Is Too Much For Mercyhurst

Friday, September 14

Millersville, PA

4 PM

Millersville University

(4-2)

Mercyhurst

(2-3)

Team	1	2	Final F
Mercyhurst	0	0	0
Millersville	2	4	6

Offensive Outburst Is Too Much For Mercyhurst

9/14/2012 5:55:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

Millersville, Pa. – The Millersville field hockey team carried its momentum from Tuesday's win against Kutztown into an offensive assault against Mercyhurst Friday afternoon at Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium. After moving up to No. 6 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) poll, Millersvile solidified that ranking by rolling to a 6-0 win over the Lakers.

With the victory head coach Shelly Behrens remained undefeated against Mercyhurst (2-3); improving her record to 5-0 against the Lakers. The Marauders also improved to 4-2 for the third time under Behrens' leadership.

Millersville got off to a hot start with two goals in the first frame. Their first goal came on a play where the ball bounced around the front of the cage. Freshman Megan Donlan got control and was able to find teammate Alicia Youtz on the right side of the goal, and Youtz knocked in the game-winner 18 minutes into the contest.

Later in the half, Millersville forced a corner. This time senior Emily Litchford fired a pass to the right side of the cage, where teammate Samantha Ruane was positioned. Ruane easily tapped in the second goal for the Marauders, giving them a 2-0 lead at the 21 minute mark.

The rest of the half was won by the Millersville defense. Mercyhurst tallied eight shots and eight corners in the first frame, but keeper Lauren Sotzin and her defensive unit stopped every attempt. On one occasion the Lakers had three straight corners and three straight shots, but Sotzin saved every at last one.

Millersville carried the momentum into the second half and was relentless on the offensive end.

Senior Paige Morrison scored in her second straight game on an assist from teammate Randi Boyd. Boyd hit a hard pass which barely made its way through the Laker defense. Morrison quickly collected the ball and fired past Mercyhurst keeper Jess Wess scoring the third goal for Millersville just four minutes into the second period.

The Marauders were far from finished. In the 49th minute Millersville executed a near perfect corner. Sarah Bomberger played the ball into Rachel Dickinson. Dickinson played it back to Bomberger, who was positioned on the baseline. Bomberger faked a shot, but instead passed to a wide open Lauren Gerhart on the back post. All Gerhart had to do was tap the ball into the cage to give Millersville a 4-0 advantage.

With seven minutes to go in the game the Marauders scored yet again. This time junior Mary Atkins scored her first goal of the season on an assist from Brittany Anderson.

To finish the offensive assault, Katelyn Zapp tallied her first goal of 2012 on a pass from Emily Litchford with four minutes remaining. Zapp's goal marked the sixth on the day for the Marauders. The Marauders have now scored six goals twice already in 2012, a feat they have not accomplished since scoring seven against Limeston on Oct. 17, 2009.

Millersville returns to action tomorrow for National Field Hockey Day, sponsored by Harrow. The Marauders take on Slippery Rock at 4 p.m. on Chryst Field at Biemsderfer Stadium.