Mercer University
Michigan
Bears Falter Against Michigan; Lose 14-4
3/4/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Four first quarter Michigan goals set the tone in a disappointing 14-4 Mercer loss on Sunday afternoon in a neutral site game for the two schools in Jacksonville, Fla.
The Bears (0-5) were outscored 4-0 in the first quarter by the Wolverines (1-5), who were winless coming into the game as a first-year Division-I program. The goals came off just six Michigan shots in the quarter and quickly gave the Wolverines momentum in the game.
It wasn't until almost five minutes into the second quarter that the Bears were able to tally their first goal. Sophomore Nate Link made it a 4-1 Michigan lead when he scored his first of the season off a pass from Zack Ward.
Mercer would go another quarter without scoring, yet allowed four unanswered to Michigan. Midway through the third quarter Michigan had a commanding 8-1 lead. The Wolverines' Thomas Paras led all scorers with four goals while Trevor Yealy and Doug Bryant each added a hat trick in the game.
The Bears did get back-to-back goals from Zack Ward and Cole Branch to cut the lead to 8-3 by the four minute mark in the third quarter, but that would be as close as Mercer would get as the Wolverines went on to score six of the last seven goals in the game.
The Bears were outshot 36-14 in the game and a usually reliable Justin Evans won just 3-of-9 face offs. Mercer was also 0-2 on man-up advantages while the Wolverines converted three of seven chances.
The Bears have a short turnaround before facing Holy Cross on Tuesday afternoon at 1 p.m. from Jacksonville, Fla.
