ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Mercyhurst University women’s water polo team kicked off their 2026 season at the University of Michigan’s Midwest Invitational with losses to No. 10-ranked Indiana University, 26-3, and Mount St. Mary’s University, 14-6.
Facing Indiana, the Lakers fell behind early as the Hoosiers opened up the scoring with three consecutive goals in the first quarter. This streak was broken by senior Bri Allstun, as she scored the Lakers’ first goal of the year. Indiana proceeded to close out the quarter with four more goals to acquire a 7-1 margin through eight minutes of action.
In the second quarter, Indiana continued to display their offense by scoring six more goals, extending the Hoosiers’ lead to 13-1 entering halftime.
Sophomore Victoria Mastrangelo put Mercyhurst back on the scoreboard with a goal scored for Mercyhurst in the third quarter. However, Indiana responded with five more goals to push ahead 19-2 at the conclusion of the frame.
In the final quarter, the Hoosiers scored first, extending their lead to 20-2. Mastrangelo responded 37 seconds later with a goal of her own, giving her two on the day, but Indiana proceeded to score six more goals in putting the finishing touches on a win..
Against Mount St. Mary’s, the Mountaineers scored the first two goals of the game to establish a 2-0 lead in the first quarter. The Lakers responded with two goals of their own with the first coming from Mastrangelo before freshman Mercedes Feliciano-Fernandez connected on a equalizer to balance the scoreboard at two-all.
The Lakers opened up the scoring in the second quarter 28 seconds in with a goal from freshman Bailey Dunn. Mount St. Mary’s responded to tie the game at three-all. Mercyhurst broke that tie quickly as Mastrangelo scored her second goal of the game, but the Mountaineers countered with five strikes to push ahead by an 8-4 count going into halftime.
In the third quarter, the Mount continued their momentum by scoring four more goals to add to the lead. Feliciano-Fernandez kept the Lakers in the game with a goal to narrow the deficit to 12-5 through 24 minutes of action.
The Mountaineers maintained their lead by flushing a pair of scoring chances. Junior Marley Hanlon scored a goal with 19 seconds left to shrink the final margin down to 14-6 prior to the concluding horn.
Information courtesy Mercyhurst University Athletics Communications
