Why Mercer remains High Point’s unbeatable rival in women’s lacrosse

 HIGH POINT, N.C.- The High Point University’s women’s lacrosse team is a Big South Conference powerhouse, consistently dominating opponents within the league. But there's one team it just can’t seem to conquer: Mercer. Despite consistently strong regular seasons, HPU has yet to notch a win against the Bears since May of 2022. Out of eight total matchups, Mercer has claimed victory the last five games—often by narrow margins but with undeniable control. This streak has left HPU fans and players alike searching for the keys to Mercer’s continued success.

For Sydney Martin, a third-year veteran, the losses are particularly painful. 

“I've been on the team since my freshman year, and we’ve never beaten Mercer," said Martin, a junior defender. “It’s always so close, but they always find a way to pull ahead.”

Close may be an understatement. In the last five matchups, including regular and postseason games, High Point has lost to Mercer by an average of just under three goals per game. HPU averages 12 goals per game against Mercer, but Mercer has consistently outpaced them, scoring an average of 14.88 goals. While these numbers suggest the games have been competitive, HPU’s struggles seem to be more mental than physical.

High Point head coach Lindsay Boswell agrees.

“We’re right there with them talent-wise, but when it comes to those high-pressure and high-stake moments, Mercer just knows how to close out games," Boswell said. “They have a way of making us play on our heels in the final stretch.”

Boswell is no stranger to success—HPU consistently outperforms the rest of the Big South—but Mercer has become a unique challenge. The Bears joined the Big South in 2022 along with Furman and Wofford, who all previously competed in the Southern Conference until the conference decided to no longer sponsor the sport. Since the Big South additions, High Point hasn’t made it past the conference championship game. Every season, Mercer has been its roadblock to the NCAA Tournament.

A glance at the numbers adds weight to the growing frustration. In the past two seasons, HPU’s only Big South losses have been to Mercer. The most recent defeat in the 2024 Big South Championship saw the Panthers go down 16-12 in Macon, Ga.—a game in which HPU held a lead for much of the second half, only to fall apart in the final minutes.

Paige Harms, a former HPU player who left the team in 2023, offers an interesting perspective. 

“There’s a lot of pressure to perform, especially against Mercer. We’d go into those games tense, knowing that we usually struggle against them. It felt like we were playing not to lose, rather than playing to win,” Harms said. “The talent was there, but the mentality was always off.”

If you track HPU’s history against Mercer, the problem becomes even more obvious. Since May 2022, HPU’s longest losing streak against a single team has been their five consecutive losses to Mercer. In those five games, Mercer has outscored the Panthers by a total of 85-48, a number that starkly contradicts HPU’s dominance over most other Big South opponents.

So, what exactly is Mercer doing that makes them so good? Part of the answer lies in its ability to control their pace of play throughout the game. Boswell noted that Mercer’s defense has been particularly effective in slowing down HPU’s high-speed attack, forcing them to take lower-percentage shots. 

​​”We rely a lot on speed and transition, but Mercer makes us play in the half-field, where they can dictate the flow,” Boswell said.

Another factor could be Mercer’s ability to adapt in-game. In every game so far, it seems Mercer has been able to make crucial second-half adjustments. HPU, on the other hand, seemingly struggled to shift the team mindset, and often stick to game plans that are neutralized as the game progresses.

Looking ahead, the intense rivalry between HPU and Mercer is only growing more. With another chance at redemption in 2025, High Point faces an uphill battle not just against a rival, but against its own history. For HPU to take the next step—both in the Big South and on the national level—it will need to solve the Mercer puzzle. Whether it’s refining their strategy, changing the team mindset or finding a way to shut down Mercer’s defense, the Panthers know that getting over this stump is key to their future success.

As the losses pile up, one thing is clear: Mercer isn’t just another team on HPU’s lineup—they are the obstacle that High Point must overcome if they want to reach the NCAA tournament once again. And with every loss, the pressure only builds.