Mercer Drops Game At Virginia Tech, 11-7

Saturday, February 15

Blacksburg, Va.

Noon

Mercer University

0-2

Virginia Tech

2-1

MERCER

Virginia Tech

2/15/2025 7:52:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

Caroline Glus led Mercer with two goals

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Caroline Glus led Mercer with two goals, but the Mercer women's lacrosse team came up short on the road to Virginia Tech, 11-7 Saturday afternoon in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Mercer outshot the Virginia Tech 28-26, but the Hokies did a better job of putting their shots on goal and scoring on those shots as Virginia Tech held a 19-16 edge in shots on goal.

Draw controls were almost even as Virginia Tech won 12 to Mercer's 10. Each team committed 16 turnovers. One difference in the game was Virginia Tech had more chances from the 8-meter than Mercer. The Hokies went 4-for-5 from the 8-meter where as the Bears were just 0-for-1.

It was another balanced scoring game for Mercer as six different players combined to score the seven goals for the Bears. Sofia D'Angelo led Mercer in assists with two.

Defensively, Sandy Salit was credited with three caused turnovers to lead Mercer. Abby Soltys had a solid game for the Bears on defense with one caused turnover and three ground balls.

Kayla Casey got the start in goal for the Bears. She allowed five goals while making one save in just over one quarter of playing time, before the Bears turned to redshirt freshman Mackenzie Ward who played the rest of the game for the Bears and had a solid debut for Mercer making seven saves while allowing just six goals. She finished with a 53.8 save percentage.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Caroline Glus scored the first goal of the game for her first goal of the season. Virginia Tech responded by scoring the next four goals to take a 4-1 lead. Ansley Walters scored on an assist from D'Angelo to make it a 4-2 game heading into the second quarter.

Sandy Salit scored less than one minute into the second quarter to make it a one-goal game at 4-3. After Glus scored her second goal of the game to make it 5-4 Virginia Tech, the Hokies scored the next three goals to take an 8-4 lead. Sami Lowinger sniped a shot top shelf from distance, to make it an 8-5 game as the Hokies led going to halftime.

Glus found a cutting Abby Vane who took a low shot for the goal to bring Mercer within two at 8-6 with early in the third quarter. However, the Hokies again prevented the Bears from getting momentum going as Virginia Tech responded by scoring the next three goals to go up 11-6.

Gabby Brisbin found Maya Maldonado cutting to the goal and Maldonado scored with less than one minute to play before the end of the third quarter. Mercer trailed 11-7 after three quarters. Both teams played well defensively as neither team was able to score in the fourth quarter as the Hokies ended up with the 11-7 win.

NOTABLES

Mercer outshot Virginia Tech, 28-26. The Bears have outshot each of their first two opponents this season in losses.
Neither team scored in the fourth quarter. Shots on goal in the fourth quarter were 3-1, Virginia Tech.
Redshirt freshman goalie Mackenzie Ward saw her first career minutes in goal for the Bears. Ward was great in her debut in nearly three quarters of action, she allowed just six goals while making seven saves for a 53.8 save percentage.
Draw controls were close with the Hokies holding a 12-10 advantage.
After not registering a point in the season opener, Caroline Glus had two goals and one assist on the day.
Maya Maldonado scored her fifth career goal for the Bears late in the third quarter.
Abby Morrison had three draw controls to lead Mercer in the game. She now has 99 career draw controls.

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.