SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced the 2021 women’s lacrosse conference schedule Friday afternoon, with the league’s five teams playing a total of 10 conference matchups beginning on Friday, March 5.
 
The Wofford Terriers will host Coastal Carolina’s inaugural Southern Conference game on March 5, when the Chanticleers travel to Spartanburg, South Carolina. On Friday, March 19, the Terriers travel to Macon, Georgia, to take on the defending SoCon champion Mercer for the Bears’ season opener. Mercer is the only SoCon women’s lacrosse team to win championship titles since the league began to sponsor the sport in 2017-18. Delaware State will see SoCon action for the first time of the season on April 1, when it competes against Mercer at home. Furman is the last SoCon squad slated to open conference play, on April 3 with an in-state battle against Coastal Carolina in Greenville, South Carolina. SoCon play concludes Saturday, May 1, with Furman visiting Wofford.
 
The Southern Conference Championship semifinal matches will be hosted by Mercer on May 6 at Five ­Star Stadium in Macon, Georgia. Two days later, a champion will be crowned when the SoCon Championship final match takes place.
 
The Mercer Bears won the 2019 SoCon Women’s Lacrosse Championships, pulling out a 15-14 win over the Furman Paladins in double overtime. Hailey Rhatigan scored eight of the Bears' 15 goals, including the game-winner, and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Her eight goals in the contest is a league single-game record.
 
The 2020 Southern Conference Women's Lacrosse Championship was cancelled after the league’s Council of Presidents and directors of athletics unanimously voted to cancel all athletics-related activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
As part of their nonconference schedules, each SoCon squad will also play at least four crossover contests against opponents from the ASUN, whose members include Howard, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Liberty and Stetson. 
 
View the full 2021 women’s lacrosse schedule here