MACON, GA – The Winthrop lacrosse team held Mercer to only one second-half goal Sunday afternoon as the Eagles downed the Bears 14-9 for their sixth consecutive victory.

Winthrop improved to 7-3 overall and completes its non-conference schedule.  Mercer fell to 3-5 on the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Mercer scored the first two goals of the contest which kicked off a back-and-forth first half.  Winthrop responded with three straight goals, taking a 3-2 edge with 17:52 on the clock.  After the Bears tied the contest at 3-3, the Eagles scored the next two, taking a 5-3 lead.

Over the last 14 minutes of the first half, Mercer outscored the Eagles 5-1.  The Bears tied the game at 5-5 and the Eagles then went back up 6-5.  Mercer closed the first half, scoring three unanswered to take an 8-6 lead at the break.

Less than two minutes into the second half, the Eagles pulled within one.  Mercer regained its two-goal edge with 26:23 left in the contest but it was the only goal it scored in the period.

Just over four minutes after the Bears regained their two goal edge, the Eagles tied the game at 9-9.  With just over 20 minutes reaming, Winthrop took a lead that they did not relinquish.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Despite snapping a string of five straight games with at least seven points, Nicole Beatson scored a game-high five goals.  Bianca Tedesco recorded a career-high six assists while Katherine Judge, Allie Yeager and McKenna Blick each scored twice.  Alaina Girani finished with 10 saves including six in the second half.

Winthrop outshot the Bears 33-28 and controlled the draw circle, earning 13 draw controls to Mercer's 12.  The Bears outdid the Eagles in ground balls 21-19.

WHAT'S UP NEXT

The Eagles will now open conference play on Saturday with a home contest against Longwood at 2 p.m. at Eagle Field.  Saturday's will be Senior Day for the team's 10 seniors.