• Box Score

ERIE (Sept. 12) – California University of Pennsylvania senior forward Amanda Heister (Palmyra, Pa./Northern Lebanon) scored a pair of goals on Saturday, as the No. 10 Vulcans suffered a 3-2 loss on the road to defending-conference champion Mercyhurst in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action.

The loss marked the first of the season for the California University of Pennsylvania women's soccer team, which falls to 4-1 overall and 3-1 in league play. Meanwhile, Mercyhurst improves to 4-2 this year with a 4-0 conference mark.

With her two goals against the Lakers, Heister is now tied for third place with Kim Kottmeier (1992-95) in program history with 29 career goals. Heister, a three-time All-PSAC West selection, currently leads the Vulcans with five goals this season.

Mercyhurst took a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute with a goal from senior Taylor Hilinski before the Vulcans evened the contest 18 seconds later when Heister scored her fourth goal of the year off an assist from freshman Carley Work (Hopewell, Pa./Hopewell). Neither team managed to take the lead in the remaining 30-plus minutes of the first period, as the game was tied at 1-1 entering the break.

The Lakers then broke the tie in the 63rd minute when Hilinski scored off a rebound from senior Jamie Laturell. At the 68:47-mark, Heister again tied the score at 2-2 after taking a cross from Work. However, Mercyhurst would prevent the game from going into overtime when junior Lindsey Meyer scored her first goal of the year with less than five minutes remaining in the second period.

Sophomore goalkeeper Paula Jackson (Kingston, Jamaica/Wolmer's Trust) collected three saves on 16 shots in 90 minutes of action.

The Vulcans out-shot the Lakers by a 22-16 margin, while Mercyhurst held a 3-2 edge in corner kicks.

Cal U returns to action on Wednesday, Sept. 16, when it hosts Lock Haven for a 2 p.m. contest. Last year, the two teams split the season series with the road team winning each game.