Box Score PDF

• Sophomore Tim Troutner Jr. racked up 15 saves on Mercer's 28 shots on goal while High Point converted 12 of its 18 shots on the cage.
• Senior Sean Harrison paced the offense with two goals and an assist in the triumph.
• Seniors Nick Basile and Michael LeClair and juniors Jason Ashwood and Connor Robinson all netted two goals in the contest.
 
MACON, Ga. – The High Point University men's lacrosse team led by as many as three goals late in the fourth period, but couldn't hold on as Mercer stormed back for a 12-11 victory in overtime.
 
The Panthers (3-7, 1-2), buoyed by a 15-save performance by sophomore Tim Troutner Jr., built a 12-9 lead with 5:38 left in regulation. But saw the Bears (4-5, 1-2) score three goals in the final 2:10 of regulation before tallying the game-winner 90 seconds into overtime.
 
"If you want to win games in conference deep in the season you need to have fight, play with speed and execute," head coach Jon Torpey said. "I thought at times we performed the first two, but lacked consistent execution. We have a lot to work on in a short amount of time and, as always, I look forward to getting out Monday and finding some answers."
 
Offensively, senior Sean Harrison paced HPU with three points (2g, 1a) while seniors Michael LeClair and Nick Basile added two goals apiece. Likewise, juniors Jason Ashwood and Connor Robinson each registered a pair of goals.
 
Along with his 15 saves, Troutner was one of four members of the Purple & White to force two Mercer turnovers. Senior Dan McKenna Jr. caused two miscues by the Bears while junior Peyton Garrett and freshman Luke Cappetto matched the feat.
 
Cappetto, meanwhile, added an assist as freshman Mitchel Snyder and junior Chris Young rounded out the squad's goal scorers.
 
At the face-off 'X,' sophomore Brandon Savoie won nine face-offs and recorded two ground balls. Also chipping in on the ground ball effort, senior Tanner Landstra posted three while Garrett was credited with two.
 
In total, the Bears earned the edge at the face-off (20-of-29) and on the ground (30-16). Those advantages led to a 40-39 margin in shots and a 28-18 edge in shots on goal. However, Troutner's 15 saves were nine more than Mercer could muster in the game.

The Bears' win evens the all-time series at 3-3 with all three of Mercer's wins coming by one goal including overtime wins in each of the last two meetings in Five Star Stadium.
 
On the opening face-off, Cappetto scooped up the loose ball and found Robinson for a goal just 11 seconds into the contest. After the teams traded goals, the Bears posted the final two tallied of the frame to build a 3-2 edge.
 
Then in the second quarter, LeClair and Snyder sandwiched unassisted goals around another goal by Mercer as the freshman knotted the score at 4-all with 8:15 left in the half. From there, both teams scored another goal to enter the break tied 5-5.
 
After halftime, Basile and Mercer went back and forth with each scoring two goals early in the third before two markers from Ashwood gave HPU a 9-7 advantage. Then, right before the end of the quarter, Robinson muscled his way through the Bears' defense to give High Point a three-goal lead headed to the fourth.
 
An unsportmanlike penalty on Mercer allowed Harrison to net an EMO goal to answer the Bears' early tally and give HPU an 11-8 edge with 10:30 to play.
 
From there, LeClair answered a Mercer goal at the 5:38 mark to give High Point a three-goal lead. However, the Bears scored three goals in the final 2:10 and then scored again on the first possession of overtime to earn the win.
 
The Panthers remain on the road next weekend when they travel to Bellarmine to take on the Knights at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
 
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