Balanced Win in Rock Hill

Wednesday, April 20

Rock Hill, SC

4 p.m.

Mercer University

10-3, 6-0BSC

Winthrop

3-11, 2-4BSC

MERCER

WINTHROP

4/20/2022 6:47:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

Strong defense and steady offense lead to 21-8 road win

ROCK HILL, S.C. – In Mercer's seventh-consecutive Big South win, the offense scored early and often, and the defense caused the turnovers to help the seal the result. Hailey Rhatigan led the attack with eight points on seven goals and an assist while Hannah Lind caused three turnovers and recovered three ground balls in the 13-goal win.

"Another full team effort for the win today," said Head Coach Samantha Eustace. "Winthrop gave us a tough game today, which was a good challenge for us moving forward."

The Bears (11-3, 7-0 Big South) jumped out to a 3-0 lead after less than six minutes into the game when Chloe Schaeffer, Maddi Koury and Rhatigan all scored. Alyssa Angelo and Ellie Dutton answered with a pair from Winthrop (3-12, 2-4 Big South) to bring it to within one at the 7:32 mark of the first. Rhatigan and Kayla Soltys countered with scores to bring momentum back to Mercer's side to bring the lead to 5-2. 31 seconds later, the Eagles got back to being down a pair from Molly Dankowski's strike. Rhatigan completed a hat trick just 66 seconds later to bring the lead back to three. To close out the first, Lind connected on a free position shot for the 7-4 lead.

Rhatigan and Schaeffer opened the second's scoring to give the Bears a 9-4 lead by the 11:46 mark. Four minutes later, Winthrop added two in a minute's span to close the margin down to just three. Mercer would respond in a big way – countering with the next 10 goals to solidify the result.

In the 10-goal run, seven – Shannon Urey, Schaeffer, Koury, Lyndsey Lewis, Rhatigan, Emily Barnes and Jordan Bramble – different Bears notched goals between the end of the second quarter and the 12:19 mark of the fourth to bring the Mercer lead to 19-6. Schaeffer and Gabby Divirgilio scored the final Bear goals with 8:55 and 2:01 remaining, respectively.

Isea Cryne – Mercer's goalkeeper – led the Orange & Black with four groundballs, while Lind and Carmella Fischer each claimed three. A trio – Lewis, Ainsley Malamala and Emma Pizzo – had a pair of caused turnovers, which was second to only Lind's three.

The Bears outshot Winthrop by a 38-15 margin, with the 28-12 advantage in ones on frame. Mercer's defense caused 16 turnovers on the afternoon.

While in net, Cryne stopped four shots in the game's entirety along the way to picking up the win.

Mercer will play its final road game on Saturday afternoon, April 23, against High Point. Opening draw is set for 3 p.m.
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