Bears Finish Game Strong in 13-8 Win At East Carolina

Saturday, March 25

Greenville, NC

12 PM

Mercer University

6-2

East Carolina

8-3

Mercer

East Carolina

Bears Finish Game Strong in 13-8 Win At East Carolina

3/25/2023 5:10:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

Urey had six goals and Vanderlinde made 9 saves in win

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Shannon Urey scored six goals including the 100^th in her career and goalie Kate Vanderlinde was stout in goal as Mercer women's lacrosse defeated East Carolina 13-8 Saturday afternoon.

In the first ever meeting between the two programs, East Carolina erased a four-goal deficit to tie the game at eight. However, the Bears closed the game on a 5-0 run to grab the non-conference road win.

Mercer put 20 of its 24 shots on goal for a .833 shots on goal percentage and the Bears had a 20-17 shots on goal advantage.

Urey had her third six goal game of the season, including her 100^th career goal to lead the Bears offensively.

Erin Degnan had two goals and one assist for a three-point outing. She also had a team-high six draw controls.

Kate Vanderlinde was excellent in goal for the Bears, making nine saves to go with a .529 save percentage.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer came out in control in the first quarter, scoring the first three goals and not allowing East Carolina to score until less than one minute remaining in the first quarter. The Bears led 3-1 after the first quarter.

Goals from Shannon Urey and Erin Degnan extended Mercer's lead to 5-1 early in the second quarter. The Pirates would score the next three goals to make it a 5-4 game.

The two teams went back and forth in the third quarter with Mercer ultimately still holding a slim 8-7 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

A goal from East Carolina in the opening minute of the fourth quarter tied the game at eight all. Chloe Schaeffer broke the deadlock with a goal in her first game back after missing the last three games with an injury.

Gabby DiVirgilio scored on a free position shot to give the Bears a 10-8 lead with a little over five minutes to play.

Urey would score three goals over the final three minutes to bring her total to six goals for the game.

NOTABLES

After going 4-for-7 on clears in the first quarter, the Bears went 13-for-14 on clears for the rest of the game.
Hannah Lind had a season-high three ground balls to go with two caused turnovers.
Kate Vanderlinde and Mercer's defense held ECU's leading goal scorer in Frances Kimel without a goal for the first time this season. Kimel entered the day with 30 goals in 10 games.
Senior Erin Degnan has scored at least one goal in all eight games this season. That is the most consecutive games she has gone to open a season - while scoring at least one goal - in her career.

FOLLOW THE BEARS
For complete coverage of Mercer Women's Lacrosse, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerWLAX (Twitter) and @Mercerwlax (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.