ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst College women’s water polo team competed in a tightly-contested rivalry matchup at Gannon Friday, March 19, capturing a 7-6 victory at the Carneval Athletic Pavilion. Freshman
Lisett Calderon provided the winning goal two minutes into overtime.
The Lakers now hold a 1-9 record, including a 1-1 mark in CWPA play, while the Golden Knights fall to 4-14, 1-2 in the CWPA.
Mercyhurst led, 2-1 after the first period, and held a slim 4-3 halftime edge after second-period goals from
Laura Perez and
Alyssa Katerberg. Gannon outscored the Lakers, 2-1, in the third period, tying the match at 5-5 with one frame remaining.
Each team tallied once during the fourth period, and Mercyhurst took a timeout with 18 seconds remaining to set up a last attempt at a game-winning goal in regulation. The Lakers could not convert, sending the game into a six-minute overtime session.
Calderon found the back of the net two minutes into extra time, and Mercyhurst held on for a 7-6 overtime win.
Calderon and
Rachel Griepsma scored two goals apiece, while Perez, Katerberg and
Nicole Nelson tallied once apiece.
Laura Hennessey paced Mercyhurst with two assists.
Hope Rozelle made 16 saves while allowing six goals for her first win of the season.
Mercyhurst has won the last three regular season meetings between the two teams, while Gannon claimed an 11-10 victory in the 2009 CWPA Western Division Championships.
The Lakers play three games at Penn State Behrend Saturday, March 20, beginning with a 10:30 a.m. game against Villanova. Mercyhurst lost an 11-10 overtime thriller to Villanova at Bucknell Feb. 13 in the teams’ first meeting of the season.