Erie, Pa. -- The Millersville Marauders fell to No. 22 Mercyhurst, 14-9, Saturday, after the Lakers opened the second half with four unanswered goals to put the game out of reach.

The game began with an offensive flurry from both teams as they combined for 14 goals in the opening 15 minutes of play. Following Mercyhurst's eighth goal with 15:52 remaining in the first half, the score held at 8-6 until junior Erin Fagan buried her free-position attempt with 2:17 remaining until halftime. Fagan had another attempt that almost tied the game, but, instead the shot hit the post in the closing seconds of the game. Millersville prevented Mercyhurst from getting off a shot in the final 4:40 minutes of the first half. The score held at 8-7 in favor of Mercyhurst at halftime, but Millersville took momentum into the intermission.

However, Mercyhurst started the second half with renewed vigor. The Lakers fired off five shots in the opening six minutes including two that required redshirt junior goalie Shannon Davis to save. Mercyhurst finally broke through, with 21:47 remaining in the game, on a free-position attempt that earned a 9-7 lead. The free-position goal sparked the 4-0 scoring run for the Lakers that lasted for over 11 minutes. The Lakers neutralized the Millersville attack during the run and only conceded one shot. Freshman Gillian Zimmerman's free-position attempt, with 17:22 remaining, just missed the goal and ricocheted off the post.

The Marauders responded with less than nine minutes remaining in the game. Zimmerman found senior Kristen Butzner open, who fired her shot into the back of the net. Butzner earned a free-position shot 45 seconds later, but her attempt went wide of the goal. However, junior Nathalie Sell quickly earned possession and found Zimmerman who scored five seconds after Butzner's initial shot. Zimmerman's goal cut the deficit to three with over eight minutes remaining in the game. 

However, Mercyhurst scored two final goals in the closing minutes of the game to take a 14-9 lead. The Lakers held Millersville to one shot on goal in the final eight minutes.

Senior Sabrina Fusco led the Marauders with four points and three goals. Fusco's hat trick, early in the first half, gave the Marauders a 4-3 lead in the opening seven minutes. Her assist followed three minutes later as she assisted Butzner's goal that knotted the game up at 5-5.

Davis was under fire all game and saved 14 shots. It was the most saves recorded by Davis since she stifled the East Stroudsburg offense 19 times last month.

Millersville fell to 8-5 on the season and 3-5 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. The Marauders currently sit two-spots behind the final playoff spot and two games behind IUP, Bloomsburg, and Lock Haven, who all hold 5-3 conference records. Millersville has the opportunity to make up ground on Tuesday, April 17 at Kutztown. The game against the Golden Bears is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.