ERIE, Pa. – The No. 8 UIndy men's lacrosse team (6-1) earned a huge statement road win on Saturday, downing second-ranked Mercyhurst (4-1) by a score of 9-6. The Greyhounds have now won three of the past four meetings with the Lakers.
 
The victory marks the second time in program history the Hounds have beaten the No. 2 team in the country – per the most recent USILA national poll – as the Crimson and Grey opened the 2022 campaign with a thrilling 12-11 win at Lenoir-Rhyne.
 
UIndy held Mercyhurst scoreless for more than 31 minutes, including a blank third quarter from the host Lakers that helped propel the Greyhounds to victory. Drew Billig led all players with four points on three goals and one assist, while KC Carlson made 10 saves between the pipes.
 
INS & OUTS
The first 30 minutes featured a tight battle between two of the top-eight teams in the nation. Nick Randgaard opened the game with an unassisted netter at 12:39, while Wyatt Auyer joined his teammate in the scoring column seven minutes later.
 
Trailing 5-3 just before halftime, Billig put the visitors within one with his first goal of the afternoon to head into the locker room.
 
The second half was all Greyhounds, as UIndy outscored Mercyhurst 5-1 after the break. Triston Schaffer added a pair of goals, the first of which knotted the game at five apiece with 12:10 left in the third on a man-down opportunity.
 
The Lakers looked to forge a late comeback, scoring with more than four minutes left to inch with two. However, the Greyhound defense remained locked in and Carlson made his final save of the contest with 73 seconds left to seal the win.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Carlson's 10 saves marks a new UIndy-career best for the transfer netminder, who had previously made eight stops on two occasions earlier this spring.
- The Hounds won the battle on the ground, scooping up 27 ground balls compared to the Lakers' 24. Evan Soucy led all players with five scoops, while Josh Jackson finished with four.
- Seamus Faulkner made his presence known, causing a team-high two turnovers.
- Four Greyhounds recorded multiple points, including Ben Foster, who added a goal to the assist on the Schaffer man-down score.
- Caleb Parker secured eight faceoffs in the win.
 
MORE NOTES
Mercyhurst now leads the all-time series, 4-3 … Lakers' keeper Brett Olney made a career-high 18 saves … UIndy has now held teams to six or less goals three times this season … Jackson (83, leader), along with Kyle Basch (71, second), continue to distance themselves on the program's all-time caused turnovers list
 
UP NEXT
The Hounds will wrap up their four-game stretch away from home next Saturday, beginning GLVC action at Lewis. The Greyhounds and Flyers are scheduled to face off at 2 p.m. ET in Romeoville, Ill.