The Furman Paladins women’s lacrosse team lost to top-seeded Mercer, 16-8, in the semifinals of the Big South Women’s Lacrosse Championship on May 1. The game took place at Five Star Stadium in Macon, Georgia.
Mercer advances to the championship game with a season record of 12-6 and will play either High Point or Wofford. Caroline Glus led Mercer with five goals, while Maya Maldonado added three more. Goalie Mackenzie Ward made 12 saves for the Bears.
Shae Insinga was Furman’s leading scorer with four goals and two ground balls. Reynolds Hester and Lily Toole each contributed two goals and an assist. Other notable performances for Furman included Skylar Hilmer, Allie Kandel, and Cate Noone winning three draws each; Charlotte Kent causing two turnovers; and Sailor Henderson making ten saves in goal.
Kent set a new career high by collecting eight ground balls during the match—a figure tied for second-most in program history. The last time a Furman player recorded eight ground balls was on March 2 against James Madison.
Mercer went on a decisive run midway through the game, outscoring Furman 10-1 over nearly 25 minutes to take control of the contest. Despite early goals from Hester that gave Furman a brief lead, Mercer’s offense responded strongly before halftime and maintained their advantage throughout the second half.
Furman’s season concludes with an overall record of 10-9—the first time since between 2015 and 2017 that they have achieved back-to-back seasons with at least ten wins.
