WASHINGTON – After a back-and-forth battle for supremacy, the final victory landed with Mercer University (2-1) as it held off the American University lacrosse team (3-2) in the final minutes in a 15-14 game. The loss snapped the Eagles three-game win streak and undefeated home record.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Sophomore Maddy Spratt and freshman Annabelle Jackson led the Eagles' attack, contributing four goals and two assists each. Jackson ups her total goals up to 12 for the season while Spratt's total reaches 13.
• Senior Emma Hare put five shots on goal through the contest, scoring on three attempts.
• Junior Hannah Spease, sophomore Becca Frank and freshman Reagan Murdoch each managed unassisted goals to cap the Eagles' scoring efforts. Frank and Murdoch also both added a ground ball to their efforts.
• Freshman Rachel Kolton and sophomore Ashley Smith also helped through the offensive end as each provided an assist.
• Spease and junior Lizzie De Guzman took ownership in the middle as Spease led the Eagles with 11 draw controls and De Guzman added six more.
• Junior Mary Alice Collins defended the goal valiantly with seven saves, but allowed 15 in the effort.
• Freshmen Kellie Linehan and Nickie Prendergast took to the offensive efforts, but were unable to score on Linehan's three shots on goal and Prendergast's lone shot on goal.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• American took the first lead of the game as Murdoch scored her fifth goal of the season with a shot just two minutes into the game.
• Mercer was able to respond with a goal of their own with 8:28 remaining in the first quarter before adding a go-ahead score 20 seconds later. However, Spease was able to level the score a minute later with her ninth goal of the season.
• Capitalizing on the shift in momentum, Jackson scored from a free position with just under six minutes remaining in the quarter before she found Spratt for another goal 30 seconds later to take a 4-2 lead.
• Mercer evened the score, again, with two more goals before American managed to find the net for another score from Jackson in the final minute of the first quarter.
• Hare helped widen American's lead with a man-up goal with Kolton on the assist in the second minute of the second quarter. However, the momentum shifted in favor of Mercer shortly after as it scored three unanswered goals before Spratt was able to answer for the Eagles with a goal with 5:37 left in the half.
• Mercer was able to score two more goals before the end of the frame to maintain the lead, but Jackson added another man-up goal with Spratt on the assist to cut the Bears' lead down to 9-8.
• Through a fiercely defensive third quarter, Mercer drew the first points of the second half with a goal in the seventh minute of the third quarter, extending its lead to 10-8. While Spratt was able to put the Eagles on the board with a man-up goal, assisted by Smith, the Bears controlled the remainder of the quarter and scored twice more for the 12-9 lead heading into the final frame.
• American fought back through the fourth as Jackson and Frank each scored within the first two minutes to bring the Eagles within striking distance.
• Mercer scored goal No. 13 just over a minute later, but Hare was able to keep American close with a goal and an assist from Jackson.
• The Bears managed another score with 10:32 remaining, but Spratt and Hare leveled the score for American with a goal each just a couple minutes later, tying the score at 14 apiece with 7:24 remaining.
• Both teams battled for control over the next few minutes before Mercer scored the game winner with 1:53 remaining. 

NEXT UP

• American heads to the West Coast to face off with UC Davis on Friday, March 10, and California on Sunday, March 12. The Eagles will return home on Saturday, March 18, to open up Patriot League play against Lafayette.
  
  For the latest on AU Lacrosse, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_Lacrosse) and Instagram (@au_wlax).