RADFORD, Va. – The Highlanders fell to Mercer 14-9 to conclude the 2024 regular season Saturday afternoon.

Mercer won the initial draw control to start the game, but Radford was determined to hold them off with Olivia Hunter stopping their first shot from going in the net. Lauren Davis then managed to fight the ball away to give Radford possession. It was a defensive battle for the Highlanders as Davis and Emily Strother each earned a caused turnover and scooped up the ground ball to keep it away.

Hunter continued to face shots as she swatted away two more, but the Bears fought their way in to get the first goal of the game. Once again, the defense proved to be powerful as they held Mercer off for 90 seconds forcing the turnover.  Another blocked shot and Hunter save came in clutch to hold off the Bears. With two minutes left of the first quarter, Linley Tirrell took advantage of the free-position to set the game at one apiece.
 
The second quarter started off quick as Mercer would pull ahead once again using their free-position and man-up opportunity wisely. Despite Hunter proving to be a brick wall between the pipes with another save and a ground ball, Mercer went on a 4-0 run to control the game 5-1.

However, the Highlanders were not done fighting as Molly O'Brien whipped the ball in during her free-position to earn Radford's second goal of the game. With momentum on the rise and a man-up opportunity, Margaret Gleason worked her way in to get the Highlanders on a run of their own. Mercer won the draw control until River Rupert swatted it away proving to be a threat in the circle. A missed shot allowed the Bears to get possession back, but Tirrell was not about to let their run end as she caused a turnover and scooped up the ball. With a pass from Ashlyn Grogan, Hannah Hanger earned her fourth goal of the season to set the score at 5-4. Mercer concluded the quarter adding three more goals with two blocked shots.
 
While Mercer may have started the scoring for the second half, Radford was in high spirits as Mady Cheney earned her 100th draw control of her collegiate career. With the game at 9-5, Gleason forced a turnover allowing Taylor Rogahn to pick up the ball to give the Highlanders a scoring opportunity. Grogan did just that as her shot met the back of the net to score her only goal of the game. Hunter tallied two more saves holding off the Bears. With a few seconds left the Bears were able to add one more goal in the third quarter.
 
The game was set at 11-5 entering the final period of play. This quarter began with a Mercer powerplay until Hunter earned a groundball to give Radford control. Erica Lawrence noticed a scoring opportunity as she passed the ball to Gleason to shorten Mercer's lead. Gleason's scoring didn't stop there as she earned her hat trick less than two minutes later.

It was a battle for possession with ground balls from Tirrell, Strother and Grogan. Mercer broke the scoring drought as they used their free-position to make the game 12-7. Cheney earned another draw control, giving freshman Madison Driscoll the opportunity to whip the ball past Mercer's goalie for her third collegiate goal. Thanks to yet another Hunter save, Radford ran the ball down the field giving Gleason her final goal of the game. Mercer spit out two more goals for the score to land 14-9. Gleason, Rupert and Tirrell made sure the Bears were done scoring as they all caused turnovers. The game ended with one final Hunter save with the score at 14-9, favoring Mercer.

KEY STATS

• The Highlanders forced 11 caused turnovers as a team.
• Olivia Hunter saved 15 shots, earning an over 50% save percentage.
• Taylor Rogahn accumulated four ground balls, to lead the category for the Highlanders.

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