Tremendous Second Half Carries Mercer To 26-11 Win Over Longwood

Saturday, April 13

Macon, Ga.

11 a.m.

Mercer University

8-5, 5-0Big South

Longwood

7-7, 4-1Big South

Longwood

Mercer

Tremendous Second Half Carries Mercer To 26-11 Win Over Longwood

4/13/2024 1:21:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

Mercer tied program's single-game goal record

MACON, Ga. - Mercer outscored Longwood 17-4 in the second half on its way to a 26-11 win at home on Saturday afternoon from Five Star Stadium.

Mercer's 26 goals tied the single-game program record set in 2017 against Delaware State. It was a balanced attack for the Bears as Mercer had 12 different goal scorers in the game.

Not only was Mercer's 26 goals a season high but the Bears also had a season high 13 assists for a season high 39 points.

Shots on goal were 34-15 in favor of Mercer. The Bears were also excellent in the draw circle winning a season high 28 draws to Longwood's 12.

Four different players scored at least three goals in the game, led by Gabby DiVirgilio and Caroline Glus who each had four goals. Ansley Walters and Kayla Soltys each had three goals a piece. Maddi Koury led all players with four assists to go with two goals for a 6-point game.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The first quarter was low scoring with each defenses doing their part to limit quality chances for the opponent. Back-to-back goals from Soltys midway through the first quarter put Mercer up 3-1 and the score remained the same at the end of the first quarter.

After Walters' second goal of the game put Mercer up 4-1 in the second quarter, Longwood went on a 4-1 run to tie the game at five. Longwood would take a 7-6 lead after a goal from Kendra Defilippo. Mercer responded by scoring the next three goals to close out the half and led 9-7 at halftime.

Abby Vane scored early into the third quarter to put Mercer up 11-7, but Longwood would score two quick goals to cut the deficit to two at 11-9. From there, Mercer took began to take control of the game, culminating with a 9-1 scoring run to take a 20-10 lead after the third quarter.

The Big South's leading goal scorer Riley McDonald scored her 43rd goal of the season early in the fourth quarter, but the Bears finished the game strong by scoring the last six goals of the game to remain undefeated in Big South games this season at 5-0.

NOTABLES

Mercer's 26 goals tied the program's single-game goal record
Mercer handed Longwood their first conference loss of the season
Gabby DiVirgilio surpassed her previous season high in goals set last year (31) and now has 35 on the year
Caroline surpassed 30 goals on the season with a four goal effort to give her 32 on the year
Three different Mercer players had at least seven draw controls; Soltys (8), Abby Morrison (7), Walters (7)
Sandy Salit had one goal, one assist and a career high five ground balls
Mercer had a season high four man-up goals

The Bears are back in action in one week on Saturday, April 20 as Winthrop comes to Macon for a noon start.

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.