SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University field hockey team scored three times in the final 6:02 of the first half on a cool Tuesday afternoon from Robb Sports Complex en route to its third shutout of the season, achieving a 5-0 PSAC Western Division victory over Mercyhurst.

Shippensburg (8-0, 3-0 PSAC) was initially kept off the scoreboard due to the exploits of Laker goalkeeper Ashley Wiskup. The junior made eight saves in the first half, including several off penalty corners, and finished the game with a total of 15 stops. SU also had a solid scoring chance in the opening minute but a shot by junior Kristina Taylor was kept out of the cage by a defensive save from Rachel Sluberski.

Hard work from sophomore midfielder Taylor Jones got the Lady Raiders on the scoreboard. Jones tallied the first goal of the match with a hard, low shot from just inside the circle and answered less than three minutes later by roofing a shot into the top corner of the cage. The goals were the second and third of the season for Jones.

Just 1:23 before intermission, sophomore defender Ashley Taylor converted as she does so often on penalty corners with a low rocket that soared into the back of the net to give SU a 3-0 advantage. The Lady Raiders recorded an 8-2 advantage in penalty corners in both halves of play on Tuesday.

The Dallastown High School connection produced the scoring in the second half. Strong work in the crease by senior Amanda Strous extended Shippensburg's advantage to four. Sophomore Emily Kohlbus assisted on Strous's goal and added a tally of her own just over four minutes later.

Sophomore Ciarra Delost made four saves during the contest before yielding to freshman Carenna Neely in the game's final minutes. Neely recorded one save in 9:22 of action.

Since allowing four goals in a road victory at Kutztown, opponents have scored just twice against Shippensburg over the last four contests. To date, SU has limited its opponents to one goal or less in seven of eight matches.

Shippensburg returns to action on Thursday at 4 p.m. from Robb Sports Complex against No. 10 Millersville.