Lacrosse Falls at Bellarmine

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - What was a close game early in the second quarter, quickly went downhill for Mercer's men's lacrosse team in a 20-6 loss at Bellarmine University. The Bears are 0-3 on the year, while the Knights improved to 2-0.

With the score 2-1 in the second quarter, BU exploded for 10 unanswered goals by halftime to take a 12-1 cushion. The Knights added five goals in the third and three in the fourth.

MU actually out-scored Bellarmine in the final quarter, 4-3.

Alex Baird tallied three goals in the game to become the Bears' first multi-goal scorer in a game. Baird netted Mercer's final two goals of the match.

The Bears other goals came b y way of John Avent, Cole Branch and Brett Eisenmann.  Branch and Eisenmann have scored a goal in each of MU's games.

Mercer's starting goalkeeper Justin Bateman played the first 30 minutes and was charged with 12 goals, while booking 13 saves. Dillon Volk played the second half, giving up eight goals and making seven saves.

The Knights out-shot MU by a 50-36 margin and held a 56-32 advantage in ground balls. BU won 20 of the 30 face-offs. Bellarmine cleared 79 percent of its attempts (19-24), but Mercer managed just 50 percent success (13-26) on clears.