Site: High Point, N.C.
Score: High Point 13, Mercer 16
Records: High Point 10-9, (8-1), Mercer 14-4, (8-1)
HIGH POINT, N.C. — The High Point University women’s lacrosse team fell to the Mercer Bears in the Big South championship by a score of 16-13 on Sunday afternoon at Vert Stadium. Abby Hormes scored her 103rd goal today, setting a new NCAA women’s lacrosse record for most goals in a single season surpassing last year’s Tewaaraton winner Charlotte North from Boston College who scored 102 goals en route to a national title, Hormes did it in two less games.
Head Coach Lyndsey Boswell: Credit to Mercer, they played a great game for 60 minutes. They earned the win today. I am proud of my team for the fight that they showed throughout. There were several things that did not go our way and the execution was poor at times. One game does not define what we accomplished this season, and certainly is not the story of the seniors’ career. I love my group and I am really proud of them. I have enjoyed coaching this senior class. They are a special group of girls. I want to thank Julia, Lily, Destiny, Nicole, and Abby for all they have given to this program and we will miss them very much.
Panther Particulars
Emma Genovese got the Panthers on the board first in the opening two minutes of play after Taylor Suplee came up with a big save on the opening offensive possession for the Bears.
The Bears responded with two goals to take a 2-1 lead.
Mandy Brockamp evened the game at two with a free position goal, but the Bears were able to regain the lead just a minute later.
Mena Loescher tied the game at three when she connected with Nicole Pugh at the 6:07 mark in the first quarter.
Mercer took a 4-3 lead after a free position goal, the Bears doubled their lead on a woman-up opportunity.
Kay Rosselli made it a 5-4 game when Genovese found her on a woman opportunity.
Suplee kept it at a 6-4 game as she made a big save on a free position right before the first quarter expired.
Loescher scored the opening goal of the second quarter off of a Genovese assist to make it a one-goal game.
Mercer scored two consecutive goals to make it an 8-5 game.
Rosselli scored her second of the game after she beat her defender to cut the Mercer lead to two with 7:21 remaining in the first half.
Mercer added three more before halftime to take a 11-6 lead heading into the break.
Hormes scored off of the opening draw of the second half to make it an 11-7 game.
Mercer was able to get one back, but the Panthers responded with a Pugh goal as she bounced it by the Mercer goalie to make the score 12-8.
The Bears scored two more, but the Panthers kept the pressure on the Bears as Loescher forced the Mercer goalie to turn it over as part of the Panther ride. Loescher got the ball back in play quickly as she connected with Hormes on the restart, who scored immediately for her 103rd goal of the season, the most in D1 college lacrosse history in a single season.
Mercer ended the third quarter on a three-goal run to bring the score to 16-9.
HPU closed the game on a four-goal run all scored by Pugh and Loescher to make it 16-13.
HPU’s 2022 campaign comes to an end in the Big South Championship game, it also marks the end of the legendary career of Abby Hormes who ends her collegiate career as the most decorated Big South player in the history of the conference. She ends her career with 312 goals, 93 assists, and 405 points.