Bloomington, Ind. – The Mercyhurst College women's water polo team saw its season come to end with an 11-10 loss to cross-town rival Gannon in the third place game of the 2009 Collegiate Water Polo Association Western Division Championship Sunday afternoon in Bloomington, Ind. The Lakers finish their 2009 campaign with an overall record of 7-15, winning six of their last nine games after starting the season 0-8.

Michigan and Indiana finished first and second followed by Gannon in third and Mercyhurst in fourth. Washington & Jefferson took fifth while Grove City, Chatham and Penn State Behrend rounded out spots six through eight.

Gannon defeated Mercyhurst and secured the third place title thanks to a late rally in the fourth quarter. The Golden Knights netted two goals to make the score 10-10 before capitalizing on the game's final shot with less than 30 seconds remaining.

Sophomore Rachel Griepsma led the attack with four goals while junior Jenna Jefferds and freshman Laura Perez netted two apiece. Sophomores Chrissy Becks and Alyssa Katerberg rounded out the scoring with single tallies. Freshman Hope Rozelle suffered the loss with seven saves in net.

The Lakers reached the third place game after going 1-1 during Saturday's action. Mercyhurst defeated Washington & Jefferson by a score of 8-6 in the morning contest before falling to host Indiana, 15-1, later that evening.  

Griepsma combined for four goals on the day, netting three against the Presidents and one against Indiana. Sophomore Nicole Nelson reeled off three goals while Katerberg and Jefferds each added one.

Rozelle went 1-1 in the two games, stopping five shots against W & J and eight against IU. In relief, junior Cathi Korenich made six saves against Washington & Jefferson and four against Indiana.