MACON, Ga. –Longwood lacrosse battled on Saturday at Big South-leading Mercer, but a big second quarter pushed the Bears (11-6, 8-0 Big South) past the Lancers (3-11, 2-6 Big South) 18-8.
 
Ava Bower led Longwood with her first collegiate hat trick, and Madison Rogers and Sarah Forman added one goal and a three assists each.
 
But Caroline Glus led Mercer with four goals while Sofia D'Angelo and Josie Parrett added three goals each.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
The two sides were tied after one quarter thanks to a strong start from a Longwood defense that ranked in the top 10 in the nation in caused turnovers coming into the game.
 
Glus put Mercer on the board, but Rogers found Sarah Forman to answer for the Lancers and tie the score.
 
Then, Forman returned the favor a few minutes later, finding Rogers in front of the goal for a 2-1 lead.
 
After Mercer scored back-to-back goals, Rogers slipped a feed to Bower to knot the game at three all with 11 seconds to go in the first quarter.
 
However, Mercer put home five straight goals in the second, with four coming with a man advantage, to take the lead for good. Bower, off a feed from Kendra DeFilippo, ended the run, but the Bears put home five more before half to take a 13-4 lead at the break.
 
While Longwood kept the lead from erupting any further, Mercer was able to keep the Lancers at arm's length the rest of the way.
 
Madison Vane picked up the win in goal for Mercer, making one save in 19 minutes.
 
Isabella McCullough took the loss for Longwood despite making nine saves.

WHAT THEY SAID:

"We had a great start," said Longwood Head Coach Dwayne Hicks. "Really proud of the way they came out and played up to the level of the number one team in the conference. We just have to do it for four quarters. But that's where we're heading."

"Ava had a great game," Hicks added. "What time she got, she made the most of her minutes."
 
ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• Bower had her second collegiate multi-goal game.
• Rogers had four points (one goal, three assists) for a third straight game.
• The three assists for Rogers were her career high.
• Forman also had three assists as well for the Lancers, tying her career high.

 
UP NEXT:
 
Longwood will await to see the remainder of the results in the Big South. The Lancers entered the day tied for sixth with Gardner-Webb and Presbyterian. Should all three teams remain tied at the end of the day, tiebreakers will decide who advances to the first round of the Big South Playoffs.
 
#GoWood HorsePower