Bears Topple Pirates In Season Opener

Saturday, January 31

Macon, Ga.

11 a.m.

Mercer University

1-0, 0-0

Hampton

0-1, 0-0

Hampton

Mercer

1/31/2026 1:37:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

By: Kaylin Flukey, Kaylin.flukey@live.mercer.edu

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer men's lacrosse team opened up the 2026 season with a win against Hampton on Saturday afternoon at Five Star Stadium.

The Bears were led by junior attackman Dillon Bush who totaled seven goals and an assist with a hat trick in the first quarter. Senior attackman Michael Frederick posted a hat trick of his own with four goals against the Pirates. The remaining goals came from Will Zylstra (3), Ben Jose (2), Chance Haynie (1) and Luke Fox (1). Christopher Cappelmann went 20-23 at the faceoff X and added an assist. On the defensive side, Quinn Kelley picked up three groundballs and James Davidson caused one turnover. In the goal for Mercer, freshman Jacob Neuman posted 13 saves on the afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Mercer took a few minutes to settle in to the game until Bush found the back of the net at the 12:18 mark, assisted by Ganon Cope. Nearly a minute later, Bush scored the second goal for the Bears off of an assist from Jack Sullivan at the 11:03 mark. The Bears were able to pick up six more goals in the first quarter including the first goals of the season from Fox and Frederick.
The Pirates found the back of the net for the first time at the 12:19 mark in the second quarter but was shortly followed up with another goal from Bush with 11:36 on the clock. Hampton was able to score three more times before the halftime buzzer and Zylstra found the back of the net twice.
The Orange & Black came out hot in the third quarter when a caused turnover from Brady Corkill turned into Ben Jose's first goal of the season at the 13:11 mark. Scoring halted for nearly ten minutes in the third quarter until Hampton was able to squeeze one past the Bears with 46 seconds left on the clock putting the score at 16-5 heading into the final 15 minutes of play.
Hampton picked up some momentum in the fourth quarter but it was not enough to top the Bears' electric offense after Chance Haynie and Jose found the back of the net, putting the final score at 18-9 and the first win of the season for the Bears.

TOP BEARS

Bush tied his career-high goals with seven.
Neuman picked up the first start of his career as a rookie and posted 13 saves.
Sullivan recorded a game-high three assists.

NOTABLES

Building off of the 2025 season, Bush is on a 14-game scoring streak.
The Bears are 1-0 in the 2026 season.

UP NEXT

The Bears will host the Red Foxes of Marist University at Five Star Stadium on Saturday, Feb.7 at noon.

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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.