CALIFORNIA (Sept. 17) - The California (PA) women's soccer team dropped a 2-0 contest against Mercyhurst at the Phillipsburg Soccer Facility on Saturday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.

With the loss, the Vulcans drop to 1-3-2 overall and 1-2-2 in conference action. Meanwhile, the Lakers improve to 5-1-1 behind a 5-0-1 mark in league competition.

Mercyhurst attacked early with a shot attempt that was blocked in the opening minute of the game. Cal applied pressure to the Lakers in the fifth minute, as a shot attempt by senior Claire Mercurio (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) went just left of the net. Within the next six minutes, Mercyhurst only tallied one shot, which sailed wide right. Between the 18th and 20th minutes, the Vulcans continued attacking with sophomore Adriana Marina (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) notching a shot on goal followed by an attempt by senior Lindsie Galbreath (Saxonburg, Pa./Knoch) that was blocked. At the 32:17-mark, the Lakers gathered a 1-0 lead with Karah Van Horn registering a goal. In the 34th minute, the Vulcans attempted a corner kick, but was unable to attempt a shot.

Early in the second half, Mercyhurst attempted two shots as one was saved by sophomore goalkeeper Emily Ouimet (Berwick, Pa./Berwick) and the other went wide of the net. In the 55th minute, the Lakers were once again on the attack as a shot attempt from Emily Mijares sailed wide right followed by a corner kick which the Vulcans cleared. Between the 62nd and 72nd minute, Cal managed two shot attempts with both sailing high of the net. Mercyhurst extended its lead to 2-0 in the 77th minute with another goal by Van Horn. In the final 10 minutes, the Lakers controlled the ball with the Vulcans placing a shot on goal in the closing minutes.

Ouimet collected five saves in the complete-game effort. She entered the game having recorded a shutout in the pervious game this week against Slippery Rock.

The Lakers finished with a 15-6 shot advantage and also held a 4-1 edge in corner kicks.

Cal is back in action on Wednesday, Sept. 21, as it travels to face Seton Hill in nearby Greensburg, Pennsylvania, at 4 p.m.