Mercer Defeats No. 9 Clemson For First Ranked Win In Program History

Tuesday, March 11

Clemson, S.C.

3 p.m.

Mercer University

3-4

#9 Clemson

6-2, 2-1ACC

Mercer

Clemson

Mercer Defeats No. 9 Clemson For First Ranked Win In Program History

3/11/2025 7:49:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

Bears scored game-winning goal with 4:27 left

CLEMSON, S.C. - Ansley Walters scored the game-winning goal with 4:27 left and the Mercer women's lacrosse team held on to defeat No. 9 Clemson, 11-10 Tuesday afternoon from Clemson, South Carolina.

The win is the first ranked win in program history and second over an ACC opponent (vs Virginia Tech, 2023).

Caroline Glus led Mercer offensively with four goals and one assist. Walters scored a hat trick to go with two draw controls and one ground ball. Kayla Casey was excellent in goal with 12 saves and a 54.5 save percentage.

Mercer only trailed once, 2-1 early in the first quarter and led by as much as four goals. Ansley Walters scored a hat trick with 4:27 to go in regulation which ended up being the game-winning goal by Walters who was named on Tuesday the Big South Defensive Player of the Week.

Clemson had a slight edge in shots on goal at 22-18. Each team played well defensively and in goal as Mercer had 21 turnovers and Clemson, 19.

Mercer's draw control unit played well against the No. 3 draw control team in the country in Clemson. The Tigers entered the game winning 67.2 percent of draws. However, Clemson only won 58.3 percent of the draws against the Bears as draws were 14-10, Clemson.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer got behind early, 2-1 in the first quarter. However, the Bears responded with five unanswered goals to take a 6-2 lead. Caroline Glus scored four consecutive goals, before Walters added her second and Mercer led 6-2 midway through the second quarter.

The Bears took a 7-3 lead into halftime after a goal from Sami Lowinger with eight seconds to go in the first half.

After a goal from Sandy Salit made it 8-4, Mercer, Clemson responded with a 4-0 run to tie the game at eight less than one minute into the fourth quarter. Abby Vane picked up a ground ball after a saved shot from Abby Morrison and score to put Mercer in front, 10-9 with 11 minutes to play.

Ansley Walters scored the game winning-goal with 4:27 to play. However, the Bears needed a few more defensive stops and saves from Kayla Casey to end up with the top 10 win on the road.

NOTABLES

The win is the first ranked win in program history for the Bears.
Kayla Casey made a season high 12 saves for a 54.5 save percentage.
Caroline Glus scored four consecutive goals in a 7-minute span in the first quarter.
Clemson had 19 turnovers in the game.

UP NEXT
Mercer returns home to play Florida on Saturday, March 15. First draw is at 2 p.m.

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.