Mercer's Comeback Falls Short In 12-10 Loss To Virginia Tech in Season Opner

Friday, February 6

Macon, Ga.

3 p.m.

Mercer University

Virginia Tech

Mercer

Mercer's Comeback Falls Short In 12-10 Loss To Virginia Tech in Season Opner

2/6/2026 7:54:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

MACON, Ga. - The Mercer women's lacrosse team nearly erased a 7-goal second half deficit, but ultimately fell short in a season opening defeat at home to Virginia Tech, 12-10 Friday evening from Five Star Stadium.

Caroline Glus led Mercer offensively with three goals and one assist. Mackenzie Ward got her first career start in goal for the Bears. She finished with five saves.

Mercer outshot Virginia Tech, 27-24, but the Hokies had 13 shots on goal to Mercer's 10. The Bears were excellent in the draw circle, winning 18 draws to Virginia Tech's seven. Ayla Galloway led the way with 14 draw controls. Defensively, Zoe Alper had one caused turnover for the Bears.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia Tech got out to a fast start, taking a 3-0 lead less than six minutes into the game. Ansley Walter passed it to Maya Maldonado in front of the goal who quickly turned, shot, and scored for Mercer's first goal of the season.

The Hokies scored the next two goals, before Abby Vane score with just over one minute to play in the quarter. Virginia Tech scored a sixth goal with 37 seconds remaining in the quarter to take a 6-2 lead after the first quarter.

The Bears' offense struggled to execute for most of the second quarter. In doing so, the Hokies extended their lead to 9-2. Ansley Walters scored with three seconds to go in the half and Mercer trailed, 9-3 at halftime.

Virginia Tech scored its 10th goal of the game five minutes into the third quarter to take a 10-3 lead. Then, Vane and Glus scored less than one minute apart to make the score 10-5, Hokies.

Virginia Tech regained its 7-goal lead a few minutes later at 12-5. Mercer scored twice in the final 90 seconds of the quarter with Maldonado and Glus each scoring their second goal of the game.

Mercer carried over its momentum from the final two minutes of the third quarter into the fourth quarter. Reaghan Lomascola scored 21 seconds into the fourth quarter off a nice pass from behind the cage from Vane to make it a 12-8 game.

Walters scored her second of the game from the free position and Glus scored her hat trick two minutes later and suddenly Mercer was within two goals at 12-10 with six minutes to play. However, both teams couldn't muster any more offense and the Hokies used up the clock - taking two shot clock violations - to hold on for the win.

NOTABLES

Mercer outscored Virginia Tech, 7-3 in the second half.
Caroline Glus scored a hat trick to go with one assist for a 4-point game.
Mercer outshot Virginia Tech, 27-24.
Mercer was excellent in the draw circle, winning 18 draws to seven for the Hokies
Ayla Galloway won 14 draw controls, tying her career high.
Senior attacker Maya Maldonado scored the first goal of the season for the Bears.
Mackenzie Ward earned her first career start in goal. Ward made five saves.

UP NEXT
Mercer will travel to Nashville, Tennessee to play Vanderbilt on Feb. 12 in the first road game of the season for the Bears. The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. eastern 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.