Mercer University
Gardner-Webb
Women's Lacrosse Outlasts Gardner-Webb For 8-7 Overtime Win
3/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Seven different players scored as the Mercer University women's lacrosse team edged Gardner-Webb, 8-7, on Friday afternoon. The Bears and the Runnin' Bulldogs played the first overtime game in each program's history and Mercer emerged victorious.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Gardner-Webb took an early 1-0 lead with a goal less than four minutes into the game. Mercer answered quickly to tie the score, 1-1, less than two minutes later. The Runnin' Bulldogs went back up, 2-1, off a free-position shot with 15:21 to go in the first half. Lindsey Zeltwanger scored for Mercer with 10:50 on the clock, sparking a 4-0 run that lasted 9:20 and put Mercer up 5-2. During the run, four different Bears scored, as Anna Schneeberger, Kelly Hagerty and Erica Coyne joined Zeltwanger in finding the back of the net for Mercer. Gardner-Webb scored the final two points of the first half, cutting Mercer's lead to 5-4 at the intermission.
Meghan Segreti scored the first goal of the second half just 49 seconds into the period and increased Mercer's lead to 6-4. Gardner-Webb scored a pair of goals in less than a minute to tie the score again, 6-6, with 26:37 to play. Nawal Alami put the Bears back on top, 7-6, with 23:51 before a 20 minutes scoring drought for both teams ensued. Gardner-Webb had a couple of chances to tie the score, including a goal that was waved off due to a crease violation with 16:33 on the clock. The Runnin' Bulldogs finally tied the score, 7-7, with 3:48 remaining in the game. Mercer held onto the ball for much of the final time, but was unable to score as the clock ran down, sending the game to overtime.
Segreti grabbed her career-high-tying seventh draw control to start the overtime period and the Bears began to work their way into the offensive third. Zeltwanger passed the ball to Coyne, who scored 53 seconds into the period, ending the game and giving Mercer an 8-7 victory.
STAT OF THE GAME
Mercer led Gardner-Webb in draw controls, 10-6, which included a 4-2 advantage in the second half.
NOTABLES
- Erica Coyne led Mercer with two goals, including the game-winner, and added a season-high three ground balls, a draw control and a caused turnover.
- Lindsey Zeltwanger tallied a goal and a season-high-tying two assists for a team-leading three points. Zeltwanger also had a season-high two caused turnovers, two ground balls and a draw control.
- Meghan Segreti registered a career-high-tying seven draw controls to lead the Bears in the circle. Segreti also scored a goal and picked up a ground ball.
- Haleigh Brooks scored one of Mercer's goals and also had a career-high two caused turnovers, a ground ball and a draw control.
- Nawal Alami contributed a goal and two ground balls, while Kelly Hagerty and Anna Schneeberger each added a goal for the Bears.
- Katie Brueske grabbed a career-high five ground balls and notched a season-high-tying two caused turnovers.
- Taylor Horner, Victoria Ferdinandi and Audrey Robertson each picked up a pair of ground balls for the Bears.
- Tori Blakeman tallied a ground ball and a caused turnover for Mercer.
- Haleigh Wurzel made seven saves and grabbed a pair of ground balls while in the cage.
- Mercer led Gardner-Webb in shots, 20-16, but the Runnin' Bulldogs led in ground balls, 31-23.
- The game was the first overtime game in program history for Mercer.
RECORDS UPDATE
Mercer moves to 2-5 on the season and Gardner-Webb is 2-6.
UP NEXT
Mercer will begin a five-game home stand on Sunday when it hosts Campbell at 12:00 p.m. at Five Star Stadium.
For all the latest information on Mercer women's lacrosse, please visit MercerBears.com or, for up-to-the-minute updates, follow Mercer lacrosse on Twitter at @MercerWLax or www.twitter.com/MercerWLAX.
