ERIE – Larissa Motts and Dana Evans each scored second-half goals to rally Mansfield past Mercyhurst in a 2-1 final Wednesday afternoon at Tullio Field.
 
The win improves the Mountaineers to 4-1 overall, making it the best start for the program since the 2008 season. Wednesday's victory also snaps a six-game series losing streak to Mercyhurst.
 
Mansfield (4-1, 0-0 PSAC) held a 6-1 shots advantage in the first half with three going on goal, but neither side would could take the advantage.
 
Early in the second half, Mercyhurst (1-3, 0-0 PSAC) was first to get on the board with Alexis Skitbitski's unassisted goal in the 39^th minute.
 
The Laker lead would not last long as Emily Sadowski found Motts who beat the keeper to tie the game at 1-1. It was the team-leading third goal of the year for Motts.
 
Less than 10 minutes later, Evans scored her second of the season on an unassisted goal to give the Mounties the 2-1 advantage.
 
The Mountaineer defense did not allow a shot over the final 20 minutes of the game to preserve the victory.
 
Mansfield led in overall shots 14-5 with seven on frame. Penalty corners were even at 7-7.
 
It is the first win for Mansfield over the Lakers since a 7-2 win during the 2012 season and the first for Brittany Hansrote in her tenure as head coach of the program. The Mountaineers now lead the all-time series 15-13.
 
Mansfield takes on defending National Champion and top-ranked Shippensburg on Saturday at Karl Van Norman Field.