Mercer University
Delaware
Bears Slow First Quarter Equates to 14-2 loss at Delaware
4/9/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer men's lacrosse team allowed seven first-quarter goals, which set the tone in a lopsided 14-2 loss at Delaware on Monday afternoon.
The Bears' bumpy first quarter proved to be too much to overcome as Delaware stifled MU offensively most of the afternoon. The two goals on Monday were the team's fewest goals in a game this season. Mercer falls to 1-11 on the campaign while the Blue Hens improved to 5-7 overall with the win.
The Blue Hens dominated the time of possession in the first quarter and the stat line proved it, as Delaware uncorked 23 shots to just four from Mercer in the first 15 minutes. The Blue Hens capitalized on seven Bears' turnovers in the quarter to jump out to the early 7-0 lead at the end of one.
All told, twelve Delaware players would record goals in the game, including a hat trick from UD's middie, John Austin. Mercer offensively trailed 51-31 in total shots in the game as Zack Ward led the Bears with a goal and an assist off four total shots. The 51 shots is tied for the second most allowed this season by the Bears.
After the rough first stanza, Mercer was able to stop the hemorrhaging and slowed the Blue Hens down the rest of the way.
In the second quarter, sophomore attackman Zack ward made a heads-up play to pick up a loose ball in front of the Blue Hens net and underhanded a shot for the Bears first goal. Ward's tally came with just over three minutes into the second quarter and was his team-leading 17th goal of the season.
Delaware would respond less than a minute later to push the lead back to seven goals at 8-1 when Brenden Gilson scored his seventh of the season on a man-up advantage after a penalty by MU's Matt Campbell.
The Bears' defense picked up their play throughout much of the second quarter to and limited the Blue Hens to just two goals off five shots in the second. Heading into halftime mercer trailed 9-1, but Mercer had shown signs of life by posting 11 shots and forcing 10 turnovers of its own.
The second half was much sounder defensively for the Bears in limiting the Blue Hens scoring chances. Mercer starting goaltender, sophomore Justin Bateman settled in and finished with 15 saves, which is his fourth highest total of the season.
Delaware matched its first quarter total of shots over the entire second half, but was still able to score five unanswered to push its lead to 14-1 with under five minutes to play in the game. After an unnecessary roughness penalty on Delaware, the Bears notched their second goal on a man-up opportunity.
Sophomore Brett Eisenmann took a feed from Ward and from about 15 yards out, unleashed a rocket that found the back of the net for his seventh of the season. The goal capped the day's scoring and was small victory for the Bears as the team looks to regroup for the final two games of the season.
The Bears finish out their four-game road trip this Saturday at VMI (2 p.m.) before heading home for the regular season finale against St. Joseph's on Saturday, April 21st.
