Bears Rout Hampton In Home Opener, Log First Win Of Season

Sunday, February 4

Macon, Ga.

11 a.m.

Mercer University

1-1

Hampton

0-1

Hampton

Mercer

Bears Rout Hampton In Home Opener, Log First Win Of Season

2/4/2024 1:49:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score Box Score

By: Connor Garrison, Connor.Andrew.Garrison@live.mercer.edu

MACON – Junior Christian Laureano and sophomore Dylan McKelvy came in off of the bench to tally a trio of goals apiece, and the Mercer men's lacrosse team used a relentless offensive attack to rout visiting Hampton, 20-5, in the home opener for the Bears on Sunday afternoon at Five Star Stadium.

Six different players logged multi-goal games for the Bears (1-1) who were playing their second game in as many days after dropping their season opener at High Point on Saturday. The result marked the third-straight season that the Orange & Black has prevailed in its home opener. Sunday's outing was the 2024 season opener for the Pirates (0-1).

HOW IT HAPPENED

Hampton took the game's first lead with a goal at the 13:04 mark of the opening period, but Mercer answered with six-straight goals to take the lead for good.
Michael Frederick and Jackson Hirschy netted goals 32 seconds apart amid the first-quarter run, and fueled the hosts to an 8-2 lead after the opening period.
The Bears bridged the first and second quarters with five-straight goals to pad their lead out to 11-2 and led 13-4 at the halftime break, including Taylor Dooley's goal with one second left before intermission.
Hampton got on the board again just more than seven minutes into the third quarter, but Mercer closed out the afternoon with seven unanswered goals.

TOP BEARS

Christian Laureano and sophomore Dylan McKelvy paced the scoring with three goals apiece, while Chase Cope, Michael Frederick, Khory Reid and Ryan Brooks all netted a pair of scores.
Five different players turned in assists for the Bears, including game-best five by Taylor Dooley.
Four players logged time in front of the net for the Bears on Sunday, with starter Colin Kelley, Rand Paddack and Peter Klueber all collecting four saves apiece. Glenn Mandel manned the net for just less than 3-1/2 minutes.

NOTABLES

Mercer won its home opener for the third-straight season.
The Bears improved to 3-0 all-time against Hampton in a series that dates back to the 2020 season.
Sunday's victory also marked the third-straight home win for the Bears dating back to last season.

UP NEXT

Mercer will make the short trip to Atlanta on Saturday to battle Atlantic Coast Conference foe North Carolina (0-0) in a neutral site matchup at Silverbacks Park.
The Bears will be back in action at home again on March 10 when they take on Le Moyne at Five Star Stadium.

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SUPPORT THE BEARS

Fans can help support the Mercer athletics department by making a gift to the Mercer Athletic Foundation. To find out more information about the Mercer Athletic Foundation, visit S upportMAF.com or email maf@mercer.edu.