Bears Travel to North Carolina for Two-Game Road Swing

Friday, March 2

Boiling Springs, N.C.

6 p.m.

Mercer University

Gardner-Webb

Photo by: Robert Edwards- KLC Fotos

Bears Travel to North Carolina for Two-Game Road Swing

3/1/2018 10:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse

Mercer will face Gardner-Webb and Davidson

By: Mary Bess Skinner

MACON, Ga. – Mercer will be mountain-living this weekend as it makes its second road trip of the season to North Carolina for a two-game slate on Friday and Sunday.

The Bears will face Gardner-Webb on Friday at 6 p.m., followed by a battle with Davidson on Sunday at 1 p.m. The trip will conclude the Bears' consecutive four-game road trip.

THE BEAR NECESSITIES
Bears vs. Bulldogs
Date: Friday, March 2 | 6 p.m. (ET)
Teams: Mercer (0-3) vs. Gardner-Webb (1-2)
Location: Boiling Springs, N.C.
Watch: gwusports.com/watch
Live Stats: (link to come soon)
Twitter Updates: @MercerWLAX

Bears vs. Wildcats
Date: Sunday, March 4 | 1 p.m. (ET)
Teams: Mercer (0-3) vs. Davidson (2-1)
Location: Davidson, N.C.
Watch: davidsonwildcats.com/watch
Live Stats: davidsonwildcats.com/livestats
Twitter Updates: @MercerWLAX

SERIES HISTORY
Mercer walks into Friday with a 3-0 overall record against Gardner-Webb. The teams met last year in Macon, Ga. when the Bears dominated with a 23-7 victory. Sunday's contest will be the first match-up against Davidson in program history.

NOTABLES

Mercer ranks No. 1 in the SoCon in caused turnovers, averaging 9.33 per game; Audrey Robertson ranks second notching 2.33 per game. Robertson is tied for 21^st in the NCAA for caused turnovers.
Robertson was named the SoCon Player of the Week (Feb. 13-20) after her performances against Fresno State and California. Robertson marked a season-high four caused turnovers and five groundballs against the Bulldogs and also registered one goal, one ground ball and two caused turnovers against the Golden Bears.
The Bears fell twice in their West Coast battles against Fresno State (15-11) and Cal (18-8) two weeks ago.
Mercer capitalized on winning more draw controls than Fresno State, with Segreti totaling a team-high six.
Caitlin Smith recorded her first hat trick of her Mercer career, registering three goals off four shots, three assists, and three ground balls against Fresno State.
Erica Coyne registered her second hat trick of the season against the Bulldogs after registering four goals off four shots to go along with her five draw controls, two ground balls, and one caused turnover.
Coyne ranks No. 19 in the NCAA for her shot percentage (.700)
Michaela Lucas recorded a career-high five draw controls against Cal.
Sami Van Slyke recorded her first career-goal against the Golden Bears.

SCOUTING GARDNER-WEBB
Gardner-Webb is 2-1 after most recently defeating East Carolina 15-14 in overtime in Feb. 18. The Bulldogs have also defeated SoCon foe, Wofford 21-11 in their season opener on Feb. 10.

Amanda Steinmuller leads the team with 16 points, including 11 goals and five assists. Steinmuller also leads the team in draw controls recording 14 for the season, with Maddie Martin following right behind her adding 13. Katie Sylvester defends the pipes, making 46 saves for the season registering a .477 save percentage.

SCOUTING DAVIDSON
Davidson is 2-1 in the 2018 season, falling to William & Mary on Feb. 25 and recording two wins against Winthrop (10-5) and SoCon No. 1 Preseason team- Furman (18-8).

Shannon Blee leads the Wildcats with nine goals for the season. Chirsine Molinari ranks right behind her adding six goals, eight assists, and 10 draw controls. Davidson's starting goalie, Rose Woolson, has started all three games and has notched 30 saves for the season, registering a .556 save percentage and the highest amount of groundballs (9).

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.