Performance in Non-Conference Losses Helped Mercer Build Confidence

Mercer was searching for a complete game as it entered its Big South slate.

The offense was electric against Presbyterian, with 11 players contributing to 23 goals. The defense was tough versus High Point and made “huge plays” against Furman, midfielder Gabby DiVirgilio said.

But both units truly came together against Longwood on April 13 in a 15-goal victory featuring draw control dominance and a second-half explosion on attack.

“We put everything together from both sides of the field, which allowed us to see what we’re capable of and how we can be so dominant when we connect,” DiVirgilio said.

Mercer clinched the Big South regular season title for the third consecutive year, boasting one of the country’s top offenses and a defense that’s steadily improved. The Bears have hit their stride after entering their Big South schedule 3-5 — a result of an incredibly competitive non-conference slate.

Mercer developed confidence in the beginning of the season, even as the losses piled up. Their late March contest against Notre Dame was especially memorable. After the first quarter, the score was tied at 3. It was 7-3 Irish at halftime before Notre Dame took control in the second half. The offense and defense were connecting, and plays were running well, DiVirgilio said, and the Bears left feeling confident about what they could achieve.

Coach Samantha Eustace called the game a “turning point.”

“I don’t think the score reflected how the game felt for us,” Eustace said. “If we can do that with Notre Dame and Florida and be successful in moments like that, that’s going to prepare us for conference [play] when we’re trying to win the tournament. … We learned that we do have a lot of potential.” 

That early season competition has paid off for the Bears, who have won several Big South games by double-digit margins and are scoring 16.75 goals per game.

A strong attack unit is nothing new at Mercer, which has produced top players like Hailey Rhatigan, who scored 93 goals in 2022, and 2023 Big South Offensive Player of the Year Shannon Urey. This season, it’s DiVirgilio leading the way with 80 points (47G, 33A). Midfielder Kayla Soltys has been another highlight for the Bears’ offense, tallying 41 goals and 107 draw controls.

But the Bears’ approach isn’t about any one player.

“Any one of the seven players can score at any point in time,” Eustace said. “That, to me, is the hardest team to beat. That’s what we want to be.”

DiVirgilio said she has a good support system within the unit, learning from younger players and vice versa. The age gaps are barely noticeable off the field, she said, with players from all years having fun and grabbing lunch with each other.

The unit meshes well together, in part because of what Eustace called “forced fun.” Recent bonding events include watching the NCAA women’s basketball Final Four together, playing board games and watching lacrosse. Eustace called the team “goofy,” saying they’re constantly laughing about something.

Their main goals from here on out: playing their best lacrosse and making it to the NCAA tournament.

“It doesn’t matter how good you were the day before, the week before, the month before,” Eustace said. “Whoever shows up at that game is going to win. We [take] one game at a time.”