Ethan Magoc file photo: Senior Ally Keirn will be leaned on heavily as the Lakers try to rebound from a tough start. She leads the team this season with nine goals and 12 total points.The beginning of the 2011-12 season was one to forget for the Mercyhurst women’s lacrosse team.

Following two losses to nationally ranked teams, they are looking to regain the momentum they had at the end of last season and earn back their national ranking.

The Lakers concluded the 2010-11 season with a respectable 13-6 record and were No. 13 in the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association poll. The team broke through for its first victory March 10 at Tiffin.

The Lakers traveled to Florida over spring break and suffered devastating losses to No. 5 Rollins, 16-5, and No. 15 Florida Southern, 11-6, removing them from the national rankings. But with a strong win against Tiffin University, 21-8, on Saturday, the Lakers are looking to turn around their season.

With a younger team, including 14 freshmen, the Lakers have high hopes for a strong season. Hoping to stand out this year as new additions to team are freshmen Rebecca Himes, Megan Hardy, Alexander Petrone and Rebecca Muscella.

“This is a very different season. We’re a lot younger and more balanced, no ‘go-to’ players. It is hard to say what the season will be like from two games, but spring break was definitely a great opportunity to get the freshmen involved,” Coach Cecil Pilson said.

With captains, seniors Ally Keirn and Lindsay Marafioti and sophomore Anna LeGrett, the Lakers are aiming to turn around the season.

“Florida was really good for us. We had a lot of outside practicing and playing time, and it was the first time we weren’t practicing in a small gym. The twice-a-day outside practices helped us as a team a lot,” Keirn said.

The Lakers need to replace graduated senior and leading scorer from last season Kimberly Masterton. The most likely candidate is Keirn, who had 77 points last season. The team has five of its top six scorers back despite the high number of freshmen.

In the Lakers’ first victory, Keirn carried the scoring load with a career-high seven goals to go along with three assists. With that type of production, the season still has hope.

“The first two games are not a set trend. It really depends on how the team reacts from these losses. They were two really tough games, so we’ll have to see where we go from here,” Pilson said.

The Lakers are working hard, practicing hard and are looking forward to regaining their national ranking.

“Like I said, we’re young this year, so it’s hard to say how this year is going to go,” said Pilson. “Last year was a very strong season for us, along with previous years. I hope this year will be just as good, but it’s still too early to say.”

The Lakers will take Tullio Field for the first time against Seton Hill University on Saturday, March 17, at 12 p.m.