SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University field hockey used a decisive second-half performance Saturday to push past visiting Mercyhurst, 4-1, in a PSAC match from Robb Sports Complex.
 
Shippensburg (4-1, 2-1 PSAC) and Mercyhurst (3-3, 1-2) played to a 1-1 score after one half, with the Lakers out-shooting the Raiders 10-6 over the first 35 minutes of play.
 
After the intermission, however, the Raiders out-shot the Lakers 18-1 and earned seven penalty corners in the second half.
 
Senior Tori Ricker scored twice Saturday, bringing her season total to six through five games. She opened the scoring at 10:04 by hammering home a ball in a crowded box that was nudged her way by sophomore Katelyn Grazan.
 
With just more than 20 minutes remaining, Ricker used a deft mid-air deflection to redirect a Grazan feed into the net and give the Raiders a lead that would last through the final whistle. The play was made possible after a strong entry pass by junior Molly Stuart shortly after the first opportunity on a penalty corner was cleared away.
 
Ricker nearly had a hat trick but had a point-blank shot stopped with just less than 13 minutes remaining by MU keeper Jess Wess – who made 11 of her 14 saves in the second half. Despite the save, sophomore Kendall Beck pounced on the rebound and sent it into an open cage to make it 3-1 Raiders.
 
The final goal came with less than two minutes remaining, as senior Lucy Kauffman sent a splendid feed through the scoring arc to the right post that freshman Lizzie Frombach guided into the corner of the goal to close the scoring.
 
Freshman Ally Mooney made five saves in the victory – all coming in the first half.
 
Before the game, the team unveiled a banner commemorating the team's 2013 NCAA Division II National Championship. The banner was graciously donated by Fred and Lynette Kuhn of LA Cameras in Chambersburg.
 
Shippensburg returns to action at 4 p.m. Tuesday with a road match at Slippery Rock.