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ERIE, Pa. - The sixth-ranked Bloomsburg University field hockey team snapped a modest two-game losing streak on Saturday afternoon as it posted a 2-0 shutout victory at Mercyhurst University. With the victory, the Huskies improved to 4-2 overall and extended their winning streak to 21 straight against the Lakers as Bloomsburg is 21-0 lifetime against its conference rival. Mercyhurst dropped to 1-3 on the young season.

The victory also moved head coach Nikki Rhoads to within two of becoming the second coach in program history to reach 100 career victories. Rhoads has a career record of 98-45 as the Bloomsburg head coach and trails only legendary coach, Jan Hutchinson, in career wins at the school.

The teams played to a scoreless first half despite the Huskies holding an 8-2 advantage in shots and a 6-3 edge in penalty corners over the course of the opening 35 minutes.

Senior MacKenna Mahan (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) broke the scoreless tie with her fifth goal of the season just 88 seconds into the second half as sophomore Rachael Strockbine (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) picked up the assist with a perfect centering pass that found the senior's stick. Mahan has already tied her career-high with five goals and is just one point shy of tying her career-high of 14 points - both of which she established a season ago.

Just moments later, junior Abby Sauder (Mount Joy, Pa./Donegal) continued her torrid start to the season as she picked up her team-leading sixth goal of the season to extend the advantage to 2-0. Sauder has scored at least one goal in all but one game this season and has already set new career-highs in goals (6) and points (12).

The Huskies' defense did the rest as the Lakers were kept off the scoreboard the rest of the way for the team's second shutout of the season.

Bloomsburg held a 14-5 advantage in shots and edged the Lakers in penalty corners, 9-5.

Freshman Dana Sheply (Maple Shade, N.J./Maple Shade) earned her first collegiate shutout as she was credited with three saves. She improved to 4-2 on the season. Mercyhurst's Victoria Triaga stopped six shots in the loss to fall to 1-3 on the season.

The Huskies will return to Steph Pettit Stadium on Wednesday, September 20 to host the Mountaineers of Mansfield University on Faculty Appreciation Day. Start time is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.