GREENVILLE, S.C. – The top-seeded Mercer Bears edged out No. 4 Central Michigan, 13-9 and the No. 3 Furman Paladins defeated No. 2 Detroit Mercy, 12-8 to advance to the SoCon Women’s Lacrosse Championship title game. 

In a back-and-forth game, the Bears struck first, scoring two quick goals to go up 2-0. The Chippewas responded with two of their own after Shannon Doyle and Natalie Karlen found the back of the net. Kelly Hagerty then netted two of her own to put the Bears up 4-2. The Chippewas' Emma Hamilton answered one of the Bears' goals, but Mercer put up three more and CMU two more before the half as the Bears entered halftime with a 7-5 lead.

Catie Snee started off the second half off for the Bears with a goal a little over four minutes into the half. Emma Hamilton and Tyra Prince pulled the Chippewas to within two with two minutes left but the Bears scored their final two goals with 10 seconds left on the clock to bring the final to 13-9.  

The Bears were led by Kelly Hagerty’s four goals, Catie Snee’s three and Eva Thorn and Cailey Thornburg’s two. The Titans were led by Emma Hamilton’s three goals with Natalie Karlen, Shannon Doyle and Tyra Prince each contributing one.

In the second semifinal game of the day, Furman came out quick with back-to-back goals from Hannah Demis and Kyra LaMotte. The Titan’s Kaitlyn Wandelt cut the Paladins lead in half before LaMotte scored her second of the day to bring the Paladins up by two. Detroit Mercy then cut the lead in half once again off a free-position shot but the Paladins pulled ahead and took a 6-2 lead going into halftime.

The Titans cut the lead to 6-3 to open up the second half off a goal by Taryn McManus. Furman then went on to score four to the Titan’s one to bring the score to 10-4 with 23:13 left on the clock. Detroit Mercy made a push and with the efforts of Lexie Kinmond, Kamryn Corraro and Taryn McManus, finished out the game with a final score of 12-8.

LaMotte, Pollak and Demis led the Paladins with three goals apiece. Catts contributed two and Isabelle Walsh put one in the back of the net as well. The Titans were led by McManus with three goals and single goals by Wandelt, Elise Harder and Kinmond.

The No. 1 Bears will take on the No. 3 Paladins on Saturday for the chance to be crowned the 2019 SoCon women’s lacrosse champion.

SoCon Women’s Lacrosse Semifinals Thursday, May 2
Game 1: No. 4 Central Michigan 9, No. 1 Mercer 13

Game 2: No. 3 Furman 12, No. 2 Detroit Mercy 8

SoCon Women’s Lacrosse Championship Saturday, May 4
No. 3 Furman vs. No. 1 Mercer