PAINESVILLE, OHIO - For the fourth straight game, the Lake Erie College women's lacrosse team (2-9) played an opponent ranked in the top 12 in NCAA Division II and again the Storm fell as No. 12 Mercyhurst College (11-4) took a 20-4 decision in Erie, Pa.

The battle for draw controls was fairly even with the Lakers holding a 14-12 edge, but Lake Erie committed 30 turnovers while Mercyhurst gave away just 17.  Mercyhurst held a 42-9 advantage in shots. 

The Lakers jumped out to a 3-0 advantage in the first five minutes of the game but the Storm got on the board when sophomore attacker Kim Dang (Atlanta, Ga./Jackson) converted a pass from Brittany Rabuano (Auburn, N.Y/Auburn).  The score was still 3-1 17 and a half minutes into the game but over the final 12:30 of the first half, the Lakers went on a huge 9-0 run which broke the game wide open and gave them a 12-1 advantage at half. 

In the second half, all three of Lake Erie's goals came on free position attempts.  Sophomore Meredith Howe (Fayetteville, N.Y./Jamesville Dewilt) and freshmen Ashriel West (Jamesville, N.Y./Jamesville Dewitt) and Annie Mendoza (Lansing, Mich./Lansing Catholic) each had a goal apiece. 

Lake Erie made 15 saves with sophomore starter Brittanie Johnson (Hilliard, Ohio/Darby) accounting for 10. 

The Storm is back at home on Wednesday as they look for their first ECC win of the season and to snap a six-game slide against Seton Hill University at 7:00 p.m.