Bears Head to California for Start of Road Swing

MACON, Ga. – Mercer will be California dreaming this weekend as it makes its first ever trip to the Golden State for a two-game slate on Friday and Sunday.

The Bears will face Fresno State on Friday at 7 p.m. (ET), followed by a battle with California on Sunday at 3 p.m. (ET). The trip will mark a four-game road trip for the Orange and Black.

THE BEAR NECESSITIES
Bears vs. Bulldogs
Date: Friday, February 16 | 7 p.m. (ET)
Teams: Mercer (0-1) vs. Fresno State (1-1)
Location: Fresno, Calif. | Soccer & Lacrosse Stadium
Watch: www.GoBulldogs.com (Flo Sports)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast.com
Twitter Updates: @MercerWLAX

Bears vs. Golden Bears
Date: Sunday, February 18 | 3 p.m. (ET)
Teams: Mercer (0-1) vs. California (1-1)
Location: Berkeley, Calif.
Watch: PAC 12 Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast.com
Twitter Updates: @MercerWLAX

SERIES HISTORY
This will be the first road trip to California for the Bears. Mercer will face Fresno State for the second time in program history while meeting on the West Coast for the first time. The Bears lost a tough battle to the Bulldogs last season, 10-12, at home.

California is a member of the PAC-12, a conference which Mercer has not faced since establishing a program in 2015.

NOTABLES

Kate Leone, Lindsey Zeltwanger, Audrey Robertson and Haleigh Wurzel were all selected to the 2018 Preseason All-Southern Conference Team.
Mercer was voted second in the SoCon preseason coaches poll while earning two votes.
The Bears fell in their home season opener to Liberty, 14-7, last Saturday, but recorded a .810 shots on goals percentage against the Lady Flames.
Erica Coyne led the Bears with three goals off on four shots, averaging a .750 shooting percentage. Coyne also added two groundballs and one caused turnover and draw control.
Zeltwanger followed Coyne, adding two goals off of two free position shots, two groundballs, three caused turnovers and three draw controls.
Leone and Kelly Hagerty both notched a goal each against Liberty.
Freshman Iseabal Cryne recorded 58 minutes in goal against Liberty, recording four groundballs and 10 saves.

SCOUTING FRESNO STATE
Fresno State is 1-1 after most recently falling to Binghamton, 14-8, on the road on Feb. 11. The Bulldogs opened the season with a road win, 8-6, at La Salle on Feb. 9.

Sara Bloise lead the team with six goals after recording a pair against La Salle and four at Binghamton, including 3-for-3 on free position shots. Olivia Mannon leads the Bulldogs in the draw circle with seven draw controls, followed closely by Bloise with six. Laurel Maunder defends the pipes, making 16 saves and allowing 16 goals for the two games combined.

SCOUTING CALIFORNIA
California has split its first two contests of the season. The Golden Bears beat UC Davis, 11-9 (Feb. 9) before falling to San Diego State, 12-11 (Feb. 11).

Kristen Swanson and Eliza Christman lead California with five goals apiece. Christman has also added two assists to lead the team with seven points. Elizabeth Koehler has totaled nine draw controls to lead the Golden Bears, followed by Meredith Haggerty, notching six. Defensively, Haggerty tops the team with four total caused turnovers, while Jenny Wilkens records the most groundballs (6). In goal, Wilkins has made 18 saves and allowed 21 goals for a .462 save percentage.

For complete coverage of Mercer Women's Lacrosse, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerWLax (Twitter), /MercerWomensLacrosse (Facebook) and @MercerWLax (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.

Bears Head to California for Start of Road Swing

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Players Mentioned

Erica Coyne

Iseabal Cryne

Kelly Hagerty

Kate Leone

Audrey Robertson

Haleigh Wurzel

Lindsey Zeltwanger

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