ERIE, Pa. – The No. 5 Lock Haven University lacrosse team (13-2, 6-1 PSAC West) upset No. 3 Mercyhurst College (12-2, 6-2 PSAC West) 18-16 on the road this afternoon in a thrilling Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West battle that saw two the nation’s best teams face off on MC’s Louis J. Tullio Field.

Lock Haven was led by senior Amber Hoch (Souderton, Pa./Souderton), who played tremendously and turned in a 10-point game. She scored five goals and assisted five others.

The Lady Eagles were also led by a six-goal performance by freshman Kayleigh Johnson (Fairport, N.Y./Faiport). Johnson, the reigning PSAC West Player of the Week also had one assist.

Junior Leigh Titus (Towaco, N.J./Montville) also chipped in with a hat trick and one assist for a four-point outing.

The Lady Eagles took control of the game from the opening whistle and held on for the all-important win.

Lock Haven jumped out to an early 3-0 lead.

Hoch put LHU up 1-0 on a free position goal less than four minutes into the game.

Titus made it 2-0 in favor of the crimson and white, as she struck on another free position attempt. Johnson’s first goal of the game put The Haven up 3-0.

Host-Mercyhurst battled back and the game was eventually tied at 6-6 with 13:52 to play.

LHU was leading late in the first half, but with 39 seconds left in the opening half MC tied the game.

The Lakers led 10-9 at half, thanks to a Breanna Haggerty goal with just one second left in first half.

Much like the start of the game, Lock Haven quickly took the upper hand in the second half of play with a big goal from Jamie Uzialko (Lima, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima). Uzialko struck less than two minutes into the second half with a free-position goal.

LHU stretched the lead to a 13-11 advantage.

The Haven led 15-14 and two straight Lady Eagle goals put them up 17-14.

MC wasn’t finished and cut LHU’s lead to one goal.

Lock Haven led 17-16 with 8:52 to play in the game and a Titus-goal with 2:01 to play put the game away for The Haven.

Uzialko finished with two goals and one assist.

Junior Kira Nuttall (Baltimore/Loch Raven) didn’t get the start in goal, but played 46:22 sensational minutes between the pipes to pick up the huge win for Lock Haven. She made 15 saves, including several spectacular stops down the stretch that kept LHU in the game late.

Defensively LHU got solid play from Krystalle Neighbor (Dunellen, N.J./Rutgers Prepartory) and Katie Zichelli (South Orange, N.J./Columbia).

The Lady Eagles return to action on Sunday, April 19 at noon when they travel to another one of the nation’s best, in number-two ranked C.W. Post.