Mercer University
4-9, 3-4
University of Utah
8-4, 7-0
Bears Downed by Utah
4/15/2023 7:59:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
SALT LAKE CITY, UT. – The Mercer men's lacrosse team lost to Utah 12-22 in Salt Lake City, Utah on Saturday, April 15. The Bears move to 4-9 and 3-4 in ASUN play and the Utes move to 8-4 on the season and 6-0 in ASUN play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Seven Bears contributed to the scoring on the afternoon. Freshmen attackman Michael Frederick led the way for the Bears with three goals of his own. Freshmen midfielder Thomas Strong, senior midfielder Matt O'Connor, and junior attackman Taylor Dooley all had two goals for the bears. Senior midfielder Khory Reid, sophomore midfielder Christian Laureano and Ben Lever each scored a goal for the bears.
The bears would open scoring 3 minutes into the game with a goal from Taylor Dooley off the assist from senior midfielder Kyle Cox. The Utes would answer three minutes later with a goal of their own. A minute later the Utes would add another. The Bears would answer with a Michael Frederick goal off the assist from Matt O'Connor. Frederick would score his second off a dodge from behind the cage. The Utes would score with two seconds left in the quarter to bring the game even at 3-3.
Utah would score twice to start off the second quarter. The Bears would answer with a man-up goal on the doorstep for Dooley off the skip pass from Parker Junod. The Utes would score three goals before Christian Laureano would dodge from the wing to score an unassisted goal. This was Laureano's first goal of the season. Â The Utes would again score in the final 10 seconds, making the score 5-9 heading into the fourth.
Utah would score seven goals until Frederick stopped the scoring drought for the bears. Frederick would receive a skip pass from Junod and finish on the doorstep and completing his hat trick. Matt O'Connor would dodge down the alley and find the back of the net. Utah would answer with a goal of their own. Thomas Strong would add another goal for the Bears. The Utes would score two more before the final whistle of the third quarter. The score heading into the fourth quarter was 8-19.
The Bears would start of scoring in the fourth with an unassisted goal from O'Connor. Strong would back down his defender and free his hands for the eight-yard step down goal and find his second of the afternoon. Following Strong's goal, Khory Reid would dodge his defender and free his hands for a lefty jump shot. Utah would score two more goals before senior defensemen Drew Mayts would find an open junior defender Ben Lever, who would find the back of the net. This would be Lever's first goal of the season. Utah would score one more goal with 35 seconds left, making the score 12-22.
UP NEXT:Â The Bears will welcome Queens University to Five Star Stadium in Macon, Ga for senior night on Saturday April 22 at 2 p.m.
FOLLOW THE BEARS:
For complete coverage of Mercer Men's Lacrosse, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerLacrosse (Twitter) and @MercerMensLacrosse (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com
