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EAST STROUDSBURG – Sophomore attack Kaitlynn Wiltraut scored four goals and helped East Stroudsburg University close within 9-7 with less than 12 minutes left, but Mercyhurst held off the Warriors for a 12-7 win in PSAC lacrosse on Friday afternoon at Whitenight Field.

ESU (6-2, 1-2) opened a 4-2 lead in the first 18 minutes of the contest before Mercyhurst (6-1, 2-0) scored seven straight goals in the next 30 minutes to take the lead for good.

Jenna Schlagenhauf scored five goals and Mackenzie Jordan had three goals and two assists to lead the Lakers.

ESU held a 28-27 advantage in shots and most of the statistical categories were fairly even. Both goalkeepers made 13 saves – redshirt freshman Jessica Maxwell for ESU, and Rebecca Muscella for Mercyhurst.

The Warriors scored the game's first two goals, by Wiltraut and sophomore attack Lauren Nunes, before Mercyhurst tied it on goals by Jordan and Schlagenhauf.

Wiltraut scored an unassisted goal and redshirt freshman midfielder Jamie Zimmer had a free position goal that put the Warriors ahead 4-2, but Mercyhurst closed the first half with three goals, taking the lead on a goal by Anna LeGrett with 1:06 left until halftime.

Mercyhurst scored four goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half to go ahead 9-4 before ESU regained its offense. Wiltraut scored two goals 31 seconds apart, and a free position by senior midfielder Nicole Miller brought the Warriors within 9-7 with 11:42 remaining.

Schlagenhauf got Mercyhurst back on the board with 8:10 left, and goals by Becca Himes and Schlagenhauf finished the scoring.

ESU hosts Gannon (4-4, 1-2) on Saturday at 3 p.m. with the Golden Knights coming off a 16-12 loss at No. 15 Bloomsburg on Friday afternoon.