MACON, Ga. – Hailey Rhatigan had a career day, and Mercer stayed unbeaten in the Big South on Saturday afternoon. The senior tied a career best with eight goals to lead the Bears past Longwood 20-7.
 
The Big South's leading goal-scorer spearheaded a Mercer (10-3, 6-0 Big South) attack that kept continuous pressure on Longwood. The Bears outshot the Lancers 38-13 while putting 29 of those shots on goal.
 
For Rhatigan, it marked the second time she had scored eight goals in a match this season, and she scored her team's first two goals of the game as Mercer never trailed.

"This was a tough week traveling to both High Point and Mercer," said Longwood head coach Elaine Jones. "There's a reason why both are the top teams in the conference. They do a good job forcing you into turnovers, so it's hard to get any rhythm going. We just need to keep working on the details and our execution while controlling the things we can control."
 
Longwood (5-9, 2-4) battled early, but Mercer's firepower was too much. Riley McDonald and Miranda Helfenbein each scored two goals apiece for Longwood as the Lancers finished up a two-game road swing.
 
Rhatigan was the one to strike first with a goal four minutes in, but Emily Cate Smith answered with an unassisted tally of her own to even the score at one just 10 seconds later.
 
However, Rhatigan answered three seconds after Smith's goal, and that started a 5-0 Mercer run that gave the Bears a 6-1 lead. McDonald ended the rally for Longwood, but Mercer had already created some separation.
 
The Bears extended the lead to 14-4 at the half, and the Mercer defense kept the Lancers at bay for the remainder of the game.
 
With three matches to play in the regular season, Longwood heads home for a date with Wofford on Wednesday, April 20. First draw is set for 3 p.m., and the match will be aired on ESPN+.
 
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