FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mansfield field hockey earns PSAC playoff berth with 2-1 win over Mercyhurst 

ERIE – Freshman Taryn Schawillie scored the winning goal and freshman goalie Kristie Rollman stopped 10 shots, including four in the final 10 minutes, to lead Mansfield to a 2-1 win over Mercyhurst to clinch the final spot in the upcoming PSAC playoffs Saturday evening. 

It was a must win situation for the Mountaineers who would have lost every tie-breaker scenario if they did not win and IUP beat Slippery Rock. If Mansfield and IUP both lost it would have created a four-way time for second-place in the PSAC West.

Mansfield (6-13, 4-4 PSAC West), which entered the day in a tie for second-place in the PSAC West with IUP, clinched the program's second-ever PSAC playoff berth when Slippery Rock beat IUP 1-0 on Saturday. 

Mansfield got its first goal six minutes into the game when Kristy Tutorow deflected in a pass from Kylie Davis on the near post for her 13th goal of the season. Schawillie scored what would prove to be the game winner in the 22nd minute on an unassisted goal to give Mansfield a 2-0 lead at halftime. 

Mercyhurst closed the gap to 2-1 less than 90 seconds into the second half on a goal by Tesa Ramsdell and from that point on both teams defenses dominated the game. 

Mercyhurst got two key saves, including a defensive save, in the seven minutes following their goal but it would be the performance of Mansfield's freshman goalie Kristie Rollman in the final 10 minutes that would determine the outcome of the contest. 

Rollman, making just her fourth start of the season, stuffed back-to-back shots by Mercyhurst's Meghan Smith in the 61st minute. In the key moment of the game, Rollman turned back another Smith shot in the 66th minute before Talena Truitt's defensive save of Smith's shot off the rebound saved the day. 

Smith got one more shot off a penalty corner with just under three minutes to play but Rollman stopped the shot to preserve one of Mansfield's biggest wins. 

The win was a remarkable accomplishment and snapped a seven-game losing streak for the Mountaineers. It was Mansfield's first road win of the season (1-10). 

It marks just the second time in school history, and the first time since 2006, Mansfield has won a berth in the PSAC playoffs. 

The Mountaineers, who travel to Kutztown for a non-conference regular season ending game at Kutztown on Tuesday, will play at PSAC East Champion Bloomsburg in the first round of the PSAC Championship Tournament on Friday. PSAC West Champion and the nation's No. 1 team Shippensburg will play East Stroudsburg, the second-place team in the PSAC East, in the other semi-final game.
 
Mansfield University vs Mercyhurst College (Nov 13, 2010 at Erie, Pa.)

Mansfield University (6-13, 4-4 PSAC West) vs. Mercyhurst College (5-14, 2-6 PSAC West)
Date: Nov 13, 2010 Attendance: 178
Weather:

Goals by period 1 2 Tot
-------------------------------
Mansfield University 2 0 - 2
Mercyhurst College.. 0 1 - 1

SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 6:35 MANS Kristy Tutorow (Kylie Davis) - Deflected in, near post
2. 22:17 MANS Taryn Schawillie (unassisted)
3. 36:22 MC Tesa Ramsdell (unassisted)

Shots: Mansfield University 18, Mercyhurst College 17
Saves: Mansfield University 11 (Kristie Rollman 10; TEAM 1),
Mercyhurst College 6 (Ashley Wiskup 5; TEAM 1)