ERIE – Dana Evans scored her PSAC-leading 13^th goal of the season and Brittany Ryan recorded her third shutout to lead the Mounties to a 3-0 victory in the PSAC opener at Mercyhurst on Wednesday.
 
It is the third straight win for Mansfield who improves to 7-2 overall on the season, marking the best start in program history. The Mounties are one win shy of matching their total of eight wins from each of the previous two seasons.
 
Kalin Duke put Mansfield (7-2, 1-0 PSAC) on the board in the first quarter when she played a rebounded shot past the keeper in the 10^th minute. It was the third of the season for Duke and Meghan Griffin was credited with her team-leading fifth assist of the year.
 
Christie Buyer got in on the action in the second quarter with her fifth score of the year in the 27^th minute. Buyer scored on a tap-in at the post on a pass from Alex Esterling.
 
Dana Evans continued her incredible offensive performance this season by notching her conference-best 13^th goal in the 32^nd minute. Buyer delivered the pass into the circle for Evans who found the back of the cage to lift Mansfield to a 3-0 advantage.
 
Mansfield's offense totaled 16 shots with 12 on target while drawing 11 penalty corners. Defensively, the Mounties held Mercyhurst (2-7, 0-1 PSAC) to six shots while Ryan turned away all five attempts on goal.
 
It was the third shutout of the season for Ryan and the 10^th of her career, tying Brianna DeLuca (2005-08) for most career shutouts.
 
Mansfield hosts No. 6 Shippensburg on Saturday for Homecoming.