Mercer's Defense Smothers High Point In 10-6 Win

Saturday, March 28

High Point, N.C.

Noon

Mercer University

4-6, 1-0BSC

High Point

1-8, 1-1BSC

MERCER

High Point

Mercer's Defense Smothers High Point In 10-6 Win

3/28/2026 6:03:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

HIGH POINT, N.C. - Mackenzie Ward made nine saves in goal to lead the Mercer women's lacrosse team to a win in its Big South opener, 10-6 over High Point, Saturday afternoon from Vert Stadium in High Point, North Carolina.

Behind its goalie and defense, the Mercer Bears held High Point to its second fewest goals in a game all season (6) and second fewest shots in a game as well (18).

Shots in the game were 30-18, Mercer and shots on goal were 20-15, Bears. Led by Ayla Galloway, Mercer had its most dominant game of the season in the draw circle. Mercer won 17 of the 19 draws in the game, behind Galloway's season high 14 draw controls. Her 14 draw controls also tied her career high set last season as a freshman.

Despite having more turnovers, (17-14), Mercer made up for it in the draw circle and by having the more efficient offense.

Sofia D'Angelo led Mercer offensively with four points (2G, 2A), followed by Caroline Glus who scored her seventh hat trick of the season. Maya Maldonado also had a great game offensively for the Bears. Maldonado scored her first career hat trick as she now already has a career best 11 goals on the season.

Defensively, Mercer played one of its best games of the season. The Bears had 11 caused turnovers which was their second most of the season (13 vs Clemson). Three different Mercer players had two caused turnovers, including goalie Mackenzie Ward. Ward made nine saves and had a .600 save percentage, her highest of the season in a game that she has played all 60 minutes of.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams went back-and-forth in the first quarter, trading goals. Both goalies stepped up early on and made a few saves as well as the game was tied 2-2 after the first quarter.

Four minutes into the second quarter, D'Angelo found Maldonado alone down low and she scored her first goal of the game to give the Bears a 3-2 lead. Glus scored twice in the final four minutes of the half for her hat trick and the Mercer defense held the Panthers scoreless throughout the second quarter to give Mercer a 5-2 lead heading into halftime.

The third quarter was the lowest scoring of them all as each team was only able to find the back of the goal once. Maldonado was Mercer's goal scorer in the quarter and High Point's goal came with just 16 seconds to go in the third quarter as Mercer took a 6-3 lead into the fourth quarter.

Mercer all but put the game away in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter. The Bears went on a 4-0 run to suddenly take their largest lead of the game at 10-3 with 10 minutes to play. High Point was able to get three goals back, but it was too little, too late as Mercer picked up an important Big South opening win over High Point, in a rematch of the last two Big South Tournament Championship games.

NOTABLES

Mercer held High Point to just six goals, tied for its second fewest in a game this season.
Mercer won the draw controls, 17-2, led by Ayla Galloway's season high 14 draw controls.
Maya Maldonado scored her first career hat trick and now has a career high 11 goals on the year.
Mackenzie Ward made nine saves in goal and had a season high .600 save percentage.
Sofia D'Angelo had four points (2G, 2A). Her two assists were a season high.
Mercer's six goals allowed were tied for its fewest allowed in a game against High Point in all 11 games the Bears have played against the Panthers.

UP NEXT
Mercer returns home to play Presbyterian next Wednesday, April 1. The game is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start inside Five Star Stadium.

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.