#1 Mercer Wins 2025 Women's Lacrosse Championship
By Mercer Athletics
MACON, Ga. - The Mercer women's lacrosse team put together a strong showing in a 16-8 win over High Point in the Big South championship game Sunday afternoon from Five Star Stadium.
It is Mercer's fourth straight Big South Tournament championship and the Bears clinch an automatic berth to their seventh NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Women's Lacrosse selection show is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET as the Bears will learn who their opponent will be in the NCAA Tournament.
Kayla Casey was excellent in goal for the Bears as she made 12 saves and was named the MVP of the tournament. Casey and the Bears held the nation's No. 2 scoring offense (17.6 GPG) to just eight goals, their second fewest in a game this season.
Mercer outshot High Point, 34-31 and the Bears won the draw control battle, 15-13.
Sofia D'Angelo, Caroline Glus and Sami Lowinger all scored four goals each to pace the Bears offensively. Ansley Walters added two goals and had a game high three caused turnovers to go with four draw controls. Defender Kellie Voorhees had a good game for the Bears with two caused turnovers. Casey finished with 12 saves and a .600 save percentage.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams struggled to get their offense going early with both defenses limiting great scoring chances for the opposing side. Glus scored both of Mercer's first quarter goals as the score was 2-2 after the first quarter.
Mercer scored the first three goals of the second quarter - all from different players - to take a 5-2 lead. After a goal from the Panthers, Glus and D'Angelo each scored less than one minute apart to put Mercer in front, 7-3.
Mercer closed the second quarter with a 3-1 run to take a 10-5 lead into halftime.
Walters and Lowinger scored in the first four minutes of the second half to extend Mercer's lead to 12-5. Lowinger scored again with under two minutes to go in the quarter and the Mercer defense shut out the Panthers in the third quarter to take a 13-5 lead.
High Point pulled within six at 14-8 with just under seven minutes to play, but Mercer scored two goals late from Gabby Brisbin and D'Angelo to finish out a 16-8 win.
NOTABLES
Mercer has won 4 straight Big South Tournament championships.
The Bears have punched their ticket to their seventh NCAA Tournament.
High Point scored just eight goals despite coming in to the game with the nation's No. 2 scoring offense at 17.6 goals per game.
Caroline Glus scored her 60th goal of the season and Sofia D'Angelo scored her 40th goal of the season.
Kayla Casey was named the MVP of the tournament after tying her career high with 12 saves.
Midfielder Ansley Walters played well both offensively and defensively with two goals, three caused turnovers and four draw controls.
Sami Lowinger tied her season high with four goals.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Kayla Casey, Mercer (MVP)
Caroline Glus, Mercer
Sofia D’Angelo, Mercer
Sarah Leahy, Mercer
Shannon Smith, High Point
Mandy Brockamp, High Point
Bella Germani, High Point
Paige Harman, Furman
Madigan Brewer, Furman
Brooke Meltcher, Wofford
Olivia Graebner, Wofford
UP NEXT
Mercer will learn who it will play in the NCAA Tournament Sunday night. The selection show will air on ESPNU at 9 p.m. ET.