EDINBORO, Pa. (March 29, 2016) – The Edinboro women's lacrosse team battled neck and neck with seventh-ranked Mercyhurst for much of Tuesday's match at Sox Harrison Stadium, but the Lakers scored four of the last five goals to hang on for a 12-9 win. The loss dropped Edinboro to 5-4 overall and 1-4 in the PSAC, while Mercyhurst improved to 8-1 and 5-0, respectively.
 
The Lakers jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead on goals by Grace Lawson and Kristin Anderson less than three minutes into the match. But the Fighting Scots would settle down and play the Lakers on even terms the rest of the half, as the two teams went to intermission tied at 6-6.
 
Anna Purdy scored the first of her three goals at the 26:04 mark to get Edinboro on the board, and Rebecca Martin scored the first of her three goals just over three minutes later to knot the match at 2-2.
 
That would be the first of four ties in the match. Edinboro would never be able to grab the lead, but Mercyhurst failed to build more than a two-goal lead until just under 13 minutes remained.
 
Mercyhurst would score the next two goals for a 4-2 lead, but Edinboro answered with goals from Erin Gordon, assisted by Purdy, and Martin, the latter on a free position goal.
 

The Lakers again went up by a pair of goals at 6-4, but back came the Scots. Emily Peters scored off a feed from Martin to make it 6-5 with 3:29 left in the half, and Martin notched her 17th goal of the year, assisted by Purdy, with 1:30 to play.
 
Just as in the first half, Mercyhurst scored the first two goals to take an 8-6 lead less than five minutes into the second half. The Fighting Scots weren't about to go away, however, as Purdy scored on a free position shot, at 24:39, and at 19:45 Peters scored her 24th goal to tie the match at 8-8.
 
Mercyhurst grabbed the lead for good on a goal by Carly Zimmerman with 18:27 to play, and the Lakers went on to score two more goals to take their largest lead of the match at 11-8 with 12:45 to play. Purdy scored her 20th goal of the season with 9:51 to play, but the Fighting Scots could pull no closer the rest of the way. Mercyhurst would add an insurance goal with just under four minutes to play.
 
Mercyhurst held a 29-20 advantage in shots, and Edinboro committed 22 turnovers to 19 for the Lakers. Purdy had three goals and two assists, while Martin had three goals and an assist. Paige Skinner turned in another strong effort in goal, finishing with 11 saves. Mercyhurst's Gabby Gravino had three saves.

Edinboro returns to action on Friday, April 1, playing at Kutztown in the first of a two-match swing to the east.