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WEST CHESTER - Kristin Anderson scored four goals, Taylor Izzo had three goals and three assists and Grace Lawson also scored three times as Mercyhurst held off East Stroudsburg University, 15-12, in the PSAC women's lacrosse semifinals on Friday afternoon at Vonnie Gros Field.
ESU (13-3), the No. 2 seed and defending PSAC champion, suffered its first loss since a 14-7 setback at unbeaten West Chester on March 28 and will await the announced of the NCAA Division II Tournament field on Sunday at 8:30 p.m. on ncaa.com.
The Warriors have been listed No. 2 behind West Chester in all three sets of Atlantic Region rankings. The region's top three teams will be selected for the 12-team tournament bracket.
Senior midfielder
Chessie Rahmer scored four goals, freshman attack
Bailey McMaster had three and freshman attack
Krista Mitarotonda scored twice for ESU.
Mercyhurst (13-5), the No. 3 seed, will play West Chester (18-0) for the PSAC championship on Sunday at 1 p.m. WCU won the first semifinal, 16-6, vs. Lock Haven behind six goals by Maggie Stella and four goals and two assists by Tatum Altman.
ESU won its first PSAC championship in program history with a 10-9 victory vs. Mercyhurst in last year's title game. The Warriors had won three straight in the series, and captured this year's regular season meeting, 19-14, on April 21 at Whitenight Field.
Mercyhurst held a significant 21-8 advantage in draw controls, while ESU had a 36-28 margin in shots. Defender Kira Kolb had 10 draw controls and Kristin Anderson had eight for the Lakers.
Izzo, second in the PSAC in points per game, Anderson and Kolb were all named to the All-PSAC first team.
Rahmer, on the All-PSAC first team for the second straight year, has 17 goals in the last four games after her PSAC semifinal output and moved into a tie for fourth on ESU's career goals list with 140.
Mitarotonda, the PSAC Freshman of the Year and a first team selection, moved into sole possession of second in goals in ESU single-season history with 57. The previous freshman record for goals was 45, by Kristin Restivo in 1997.
McMaster entered the game with six goals and helped the Warriors make a big push in the second half.
Mercyhurst led 6-4 at halftime and extended its lead to 11-6 with just over 21 minutes remaining.
ESU responded with the next four goals - two by Rahmer and two by McMaster - to close within 11-10 with eight minutes left.
Angelina Simon and Lacey Netti scored twice in a 28-second span for Mercyhurst for a 13-10 lead.
Rahmer pulled ESU back within two at the 4:27 mark, but Izzo scored reestablished the Lakers' three-goal edge just 22 seconds later.
Sophomore midfielder
Hana Cicerelle (goal, 2 assists) scored for ESU to make it 14-12 with 41 seconds remaining before Anderson won the ensuing draw control as Mercyhurst ran out the clock.
Junior midfielder
Emma Rufolo and freshman midfielder
Brielle Curtis also scored for the Warriors.
Raelyn Tiberio had 10 saves for Mercyhurst, and sophomore goalkeeper
Tatyana Petteway made seven saves for ESU.