Mercer Set to Play Winthrop in Saturday Matchup

Saturday, February 29

Macon, Ga.

2 p.m.

Mercer University

Winthrop

Mercer Set to Play Winthrop in Saturday Matchup

2/28/2020 10:29:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse

The Bears and Eagles will face-off for the third time

By: Jesika Moore

MACON, Ga. – Mercer women's lacrosse welcomes the Winthrop Eagles to Five Star Stadium on Saturday for an afternoon matchup.

GAMEDAY LINEUP
Date: Saturday, February 29 | 2 p.m. (ET)
Teams: Winthrop (0-4) at Mercer (2-2)
Location: Macon, Ga. | Five Star Stadium
Live Stats: MercerBears.com/LiveStats
Twitter Updates: @MercerWLAX

SERIES HISTORY
This is the third meeting between the Bears and the Eagles. Winthrop has a 2-0 lead in the series. The last meeting was on March 23, 2019 when the Eagles won, 14-12.
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ABOUT THE BEARS
Hailey Rhatigan's 15 goals this season puts her 21 goals away from the century mark in her career. She would become the youngest player in Mercer history to hit the milestone. Rhatigan also ranks sixth in goals per game in her career in NCAA Division I lacrosse ranks, and first in the Southern Conference.

Mercer ranks seventh in the country and first in the conference in groundballs per game with an average of 23.75. Eva Thorn and Hailey Rhatigan both hit the century mark in points last Friday against the California Golden Bears. Thorn hit the milestone first with an unassisted goal at the 21:55 mark of the second half. Rhatigan followed shortly after with an assist on Cailey Thornburg's goal at 18:02. Cailey Thornburg is ranked 44th in nationally for shot percentage with an average of 0.643. Mercer leads the conference in 12 categories - assists per game, draw controls per game and percentage, groundballs per game, points per game, saves percentage, scoring defense, scoring margin, scoring offense, shots per game, shots on goal per game, and win percentage.

SCOUTING WINTHROP
Winthrop enters the contest with a 0-4 record on the season. They are coming off a 17-9 loss against Liberty on Wednesday night. The Eagles have two players with double-digit goals. Sophomores Mia Creighton and Lauren Asher have recorded 12 goals apiece, while both players have netted three free-position tallies. Midfielder Aubrey Leszczak has registered seven caused turnovers on the season. The Eagles finished the 2019 season with an 8-11 record and a 4-2 mark in the Big South. They are tied for first in the Big South for assists per game with 5.67. Julika Blankenship enters her fourth season at the helm of the Eagles. She has registered an overall record of 31-31 with Winthrop and a career record of 124-75.

NEXT UP
Mercer will head up to Kennesaw State for an I-75 mid-week matchup on March 4. The Black and Orange lead the all-time series, 3-1.

Follow The Bears
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.