ERIE, Pa. Junior Taylor Ruscillo (Carle Place, N.Y.) potted a pair of scores to help lead American International College past Mercyhurst, 3-0, in non-conference field hockey action this afternoon at Tullio Field.

AIC opens the season with a victory for the third straight season to improve to 1-0 while the Lakers fall to 0-2 with the setback.

The Jackets had numerous chances in the first half to grab an early lead including a close range bid by junior Emma Heroth (Johnstown, N.Y.) just three minutes in, however, senior Andrea Goldbach (Hamburg, N.Y.) sacrificed her body for the defensive save.

Then just 40 ticks later Ruscillo was set up perfectly off a penalty corner inserted by junior Shea Homer (Glens Falls, N.Y.), but senior net-minder Sam Takac (Elma, N.Y.) made the stop to preserved the 0-0 score.

Late in the first-half the game was delayed for 30 minutes due to lighting in the area and when play resumed the half ended with no score.

American International came out of the intermission determined to find the back of the cage and they did just that as it was sophomore Liv Magni (Sweet Valley, Pa.) who received a pass through the defense by senior Erica McLean (Branford, Conn.) and beat the goalie on the left side for the 1-0 lead in the 42nd minute.

AIC continued to pressure putting shots on net and it was Ruscillo who gave them a two-goal advantage as she collected a pass from Homer and beat the keeper to the left in the 50 th minute.

Ruscillo added another late score with just over two minutes remaining in the game on an unassisted tally for the final score.

Takac falls to 0-2 with the loss after stopping 10 shots while senior Ainslee Penfield (Greenfield, Mass.) earns the shutout making six saves in the victory.

AIC outshot the hosts 15-14 with a commanding 13-6 mark on goal and also held the slim 9-8 advantage in penalty corners.

The Jackets remain in Pennsylvania to take on Slippery Rock tomorrow afternoon with a high noon start.