Mercer scored a season-high 16 goals on 63 total shots and defeated VMI, 16-8, in Southern Conference action on Saturday afternoon at Foster Stadium. The eight-goal victory was Mercer's first of the season as it improved to 1-7 overall and 1-1 in league play. Twelve different players scored for Mercer, including Jake Priester, who tallied a hat trick on six shots. VMI fell to 3-4 overall and 0-3 in SoCon contests. A closely-fought first half resulted in Mercer taking a 6-5 advantage to the locker room. Patrick Marks and Nick Rockefeller scored the first two goals of the game to give Mercer a 2-0 advantage before the Keydets snuck in a score with two seconds remaining in the first quarter. The two teams matched one another with four goals apiece in the second frame. With the match tied, 5-5, Ashton Wood scored his lone goal with 58 seconds to spare before halftime. Mercer cranked up the defensive intensity in the second half, allowing just three goals by the Keydets while forcing 10 turnovers. The Bears tallied 27 groundballs in the second half as well, which played a key role in a six-goal fourth quarter. Leading 10-7 entering the fourth quarter, Mercer reeled off five straight goals to open the period and pull away from the Keydets. Notables » Mercer was 22-of-23 on clears. » The Bears scored two extra-man goals by Nick Rockefeller and Mikey Ewing. » Mercer won 23 of 28 faceoffs. All 23 were won by freshman Ashton Wood. » Mercer recorded 43 groundballs, including 11 by Ashton Wood and six by Michael O'Brien. » Josh Tarver played all 60 minutes between the pipes and made eight saves. Records Update » Mercer: 1-7 (1-1 SoCon) » VMI: 3-4 (0-3 SoCon) Next Game Mercer hosts Bellarmine at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 30 at Five Star Stadium. Follow the Bears For complete coverage of Mercer Men's Lacrosse, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerLacrosse (Twitter), /MercerMensLAX(Facebook) and @MercerMensLacrosse (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.