Hosted by: Notre Dame (Ohio) College
Location: South Euclid, Ohio | Mellen Pool
The Short Story: The Gannon women's water polo team earned a split in a road swing at Notre Dame (Ohio) Saturday at Mellen Pool. The Lady Knights opened the day with a 12-4 loss to rival Mercyhurst before capturing their first win of the season in a 14-8 victory over the host Falcons. Freshman Alison Cooney (Erie, Pa. / Villa Maria Academy) led the Lady Knights with a combined seven goals. Sophomore Emily Rodriguez (Erie, Pa. / Villa Maria Academy) finished the day with 30 blocks including a career-high 16 in the win over the Falcons.
 
THE BASICS: GAME ONE
Score: Mercyhurst 12, Gannon 4
Records: Mercyhurst (7-7), Gannon (0-8)
 
SCORES BY QUARTER (1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - TOTAL)
Gannon (2 - 0 - 2 - 0 - 4)
Mercyhurst (3 - 4 - 2 - 3 - 12)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Scoring in the first minute of play, Mercyhurst extended its lead to 2-0 with 4:53 remaining in the opening quarter. Answering just 17 seconds after the Lakers' second strike, Cooney scored her first of two goals in the match to put Gannon on the board, 2-1.
- The Lakers came right back, only 16 seconds later, to move ahead 3-1.
- The Lady Knights pulled back to within one of the Lakers, 3-2, on a tally from junior Shanen Lazenby (Erie, Pa. / McDowell) with 3:59 left in the opening frame.
- In the second quarter, the Lady Knights were held scoreless as the Lakers built their lead to 7-2. The Lakers' final tally of the half came with just 20 seconds left.
- Following a scoreless three minutes and 47 seconds to open the third quarter, the two squads exchanged goals with the Lakers in the lead 8-3. Cooney recorded her second goal of the match with 3:28 left in the third.
- Trailing 9-3 late in the third, freshman Liz Barr (Honolulu, Hawaii / 'Iolani School) fired one in with seven seconds left on the clock.
- The Lakers sealed the 12-4 victory with three unanswered goals in the fourth quarter.
- Emily Rodriguez matched a previous career-high 14 blocks.
- Barr, sophomore Christine Uht (Erie, Pa. / Villa Maria Academy), and senior Janelle McDaniels (Edwardsville, Pa. / Wyoming Valley West) each recorded four steals.
 
GANNON GOALS (4)
Alison Cooney (2)
Liz Barr (1)
Shanen Lazenby (1)
 
GANNON BLOCKS (14)
Emily Rodriguez (14)
 
THE BASICS: GAME TWO
Score: Gannon 14, Notre Dame (Ohio) 8
Records: Gannon (1-8), Notre Dame (Ohio) (1-7)
 
SCORES BY QUARTER (1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - TOTAL)
Gannon (4 - 5 - 3 - 2 - 14)
Notre Dame (Ohio) (2 - 0 - 3 - 3 - 8)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Gannon captured a 4-2 lead in the first quarter. With 29 seconds left in the opening frame, Cooney scored her first of five goals in the match to double up on Notre Dame (Ohio), 4-2.
- Holding the Falcons scoreless in the second quarter, the Lady Knights pushed their lead to 9-2 heading into the break.
- The remaining two quarters were evenly balanced with both squads exchanging three goals in the third. Gannon captured the 14-8 victory with a pair of fourth-quarter tallies.
- Cooney converted all five of her shots into goals.
- After tying her career-high in the previous match, Emily Rodriguez set a new career-best with 16 blocks to lead Gannon to its first win this season. Rodriguez also registered three assists and two steals in the win.
- Lazenby, McDaniels and freshman Francesca Williamson (Chicago, Ill. / Mother McAuley Liberal Arts) each recorded three steals. Junior Rachel Bednarek (Windermere, Fla. / Olympia) led the Lady Knights' field players with two assists.
 
GANNON GOALS (14)
Alison Cooney (5)
Shanen Lazenby (3)
Rachel Bednarek (2)
Janelle McDaniels (2)
Liz Barr (1)
Samantha McGregor (1)
 
GANNON BLOCKS (16)
Emily Rodriguez (16)
 
UP NEXT
Gannon returns to action at the Carneval Athletic Pavilion April 2. The Lady Knights will face Penn State-Behrend in the single match starting at 8 p.m. It will mark the first time GU will play at the CAP since April 8, 2013, due to the renovation of the Recreation and Wellness Center.