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ERIE, Pa.- Despite a late push by the Slippery Rock University field hockey team, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference rival Mercyhurst held on to earn a 3-2 over The Rock on Friday night at Tullio Field.
 
The Lakers opened the game with three straight goals, but The Rock did not go down quietly, as they scored two straight goals to pull within one of the hosts. Neither team would score in the final 26:32 of play.
 
With the loss, Slippery Rock falls to 5-10 overall and 2-6 in the PSAC. Mercyhurst wins their fourth straight as they improve to 7-7 overall and 4-3 in conference action.
 
Mercyhurst scored first just 2:31 into the game when Jessica Brandon dribbled down the left side and scored on Slippery Rock senior goalkeeper Carlee DuMars.
 
Emily Burns scored just seven minutes later for the hosts to make it a 2-0 game. Taylor Balser scored off a penalty corner 22:32 into the game to give her team a 3-0 lead.
 
Slippery Rock freshman Allison Grant scored off a corner in the final minute of the first half from the assist of sophomore Kailee Krupski to put her team on the board, 3-1, heading into halftime.
 
Coming back from the break, Krupski scored off a pass from senior Courtney Bradshaw in the 43rd minute when her shot bounced off of Mercyhurst goalie Sam Takac's glove and into the net.
 
Slippery Rock outshot Mercyhurst 13-10 in the loss, while also holding an 11-7 advantage in penalty corners.
 
DuMars made two saves and allowed one goal in her 13 minutes of action. Sophomore goalie Nicole Bream made one save and allowed one goal in her 57 minutes in the cage.
 
The Rock will return to action next Saturday, Oct. 24 at 12 p.m. when the team hosts West Chester on "Senior Day".