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GAME OVERVIEW
• Millersville started the season off right last Saturday with a 3-1 victory over No. 5 Stonehill. With the win, Millersville held on to the No. 3 spot in the country while also keeping alive the tradition of winning the first game of the year, something the Marauders have done for eight consecutive seasons. Three different players scored for Millersville:
Alexis Gazzio,
Kyra Brakefield, and
Aliza Mizak. Gazzio, who transferred from the NCAA Division I Champion Delaware, was the first to score. It only took her 11 minutes to begin making an impact. Gazzio's goal was her first in Division II and not long later, Brakefield joined her, scoring her first ever collegiate goal. Mizak's goal came as no surprise, as she now has 19 total goals in the beginning of her junior year.
• Redshirt junior goalkeeper
Kylee Bair played the entire game on Saturday after she spent most of last season backing up Samantha Rumler. Bair faced 10 shots, seven of which were on goal. She held her ground, saving six and only allowing one goal despite being harassed by one of the best offensive players in the game, Kacie Smith. After some starts in 2015 and the win last weekend, Bair is 6-0 over the course of her career.
• Millersville's win at home on Saturday brought their home record to 42-4 in the last five years. In every season since 2012, the Marauders have a winning percentage of over .700 in each season. The impressive 10-2 2016 record was actually the Marauders worst since a 7-3 home season run in 2012.Â
ABOUT THE SERIES
• Millersville has held the upper hand in this series. At one point, Mercyhurst led the series 4-2; then Millersville field hockey changed drastically. The Marauders have won 11 in a row against the Lakers and will be looking to make it 12 on Saturday. Last year, Millersville defeated Mercyhurst, 3-0. The Lakers weren't out-shot by much (12-8) and weren't dominated in corners either (10-7). In 2015, Mercyhurst battled Millersville closer, but lost 3-1 and 1-0, respectively. In the past three years, Millersville has managed to outscore Mercyhurst by a 9-2 margin.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
• In 2016, Mercyhurst went 2-15. The 2017 campaign got off to a better start for the Lakers, who defeated American International College last week to start 1-0. Mercyhurst's offense looked strong in the opening game as the Lakers bombarded American International with 22 shots and 13 corners. American International is 0-2, with their other loss coming at a 4-1 margin against Slippery Rock. For Mercyhurst, last season was uncharacteristic. The Lakers went 8-10 in 2015, 9-10 in 2014, and 9-9 in 2013. The 1-0 start in 2017 is the second time in five years that Mercyhurst has started out the season with a victory. Although 2016 looks rough on paper, six of Mercyhurst's 15 losses came by a one goal margin. The 2017 Mercyhurst team may be poised to give Millersville a good matchup on Saturday at Chryst Field at Biemesderfer stadium.
