Site: Macon, Ga.
Score: High Point 11, Mercer 14
Records: High Point (7-5, 2-3), Mercer (5-10, 2-3)
MACON, GA. — The High Point University men’s lacrosse team fell to Mercer on Saturday (April 30th) afternoon. Hunter Vines led the Panthers in scoring with a game high four goals. At 8:00 PM on Thursday (May 5th) #3 HPU will take on #2 Richmond in the SoCon semifinal inside Vert Stadium.
Coach Jon Torpey: “Credit to Mercer, they played great. I thought they did a tremendous job at the face-off X. We just played an undisciplined game, not our best effort by any means. But we are looking forward to having an opportunity to play in the SoCon Tournament next weekend.”
Panther Particulars
The Bears got out to a 2-0 start in the first two minutes of the game.
Asher Nolting scored to make it a one goal game. His goal came from great defense as Trey Smith caused a turnover and found Nolting who scored to make it 2-1 with 7:39 to go in the first.
Mercer made the lead 3-1 with less than four minutes left in the first.
With just over a minute remaining in the first, Hunter Vines scored to make it 3-2.
Five seconds into the second quarter, Jack Vanoverbeke scored off an assist from Collin Hoben as Hoben won the face-off, ran down the field, and found 13. Just like that HPU tied the game at three.
With 14:17 left in the second, Vines scored his second to give HPU its first lead 4-3.
Mercer scored two straight to go up 5-4.
Nick Rizzo tied the game at five by creating space with a dodge.
With 6:23 left in the second quarter, Jack Sawyer scored out of a media timeout to give the Panthers a 6-5 lead much to the delight of the Panther bench.
Mercer tied the game at 6.
With ten seconds left in the first half, a Mercer triple team was not enough to stop Nolting who scored with one second left and three defenders on him to put HPU up by one at the break.
Vines grabbed his third goal of the game with 12:12 to play in the third quarter giving his Panthers a 8-6 lead.
Mercer scored three straight over a minute span to take a 9-8 lead.
Freshman Isiah Moran-Weekes scooped up a ground ball and tied the game at nine with 7:03 in the third quarter.
Mercer took an 11-9 lead into the fourth quarter.
HPU’s defense got another big stop, PJ Peters scooped it up and cleared the ball down the field on his own, he passed it to Mayea who scored to make it a one goal game.
Vines tied the game 11 as Joel Scerbo connected with Vines on the clear with 10:37 to go in the game.
Mercer scored three straight goals in the last ten minutes of the game to go on to win 14-11.
UP NEXT
HPU returns to Vert Stadium as High Point will play host to the SoCon Tournament. The semifinals start on Thursday at 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM. At 8:00 PM on Thursday (May 5th) #3 HPU will take on #2 Richmond in the SoCon semifinal.
SoCon Men’s Lacrosse Tournament Schedule
(Vert Stadium; High Point, N.C.)
May 5 (Thursday)
No. 1 Jacksonville vs. No. 4 VMI, 5 p.m.
No. 2 Richmond vs. No. 3 High Point, 8 p.m.
(Vert Stadium; High Point, N.C.)
May 7 (Saturday)
Championship game, 12 p.m.