HAMPTON,  Va. (Feb. 1, 2025) … AJ Knox scored two goals, both off assists from Sebastien West, to lead Hampton men's lacrosse in its season opener on Saturday as they fell to Mercer 23-3.

The Bears scored the first three goals of the match in a span of two and a half minutes. Luke Fox tallied the first goal at 12:05 and Jack Sullivan scored at the 9:57 mark, before Jackson Hirschy took a pass from Michael Frederick for a 3-0 Mercer lead with 9:35 on the clock.

Mamadou Meite got Hampton on the board at the 6:26 mark with an unassisted goal. Mercer pushed the lead to 4-1 behind Sullivan's second goal of the quarter.

Knox scored his first goal connecting with West with 2:45 left in the first quarter as Hampton trailed 4-2 after one. Those two brought Hampton to 4-3 82 seconds into the second quarter with Knox scoring a behind the back goal.

Mercer closed the second quarter scoring seven goals in the final 3:45 with Dylan McKelvy finishing the half beating the halftime buzzer for a tally as the Bears held a 14-3 lead at intermission.

Will Zylstra and Dillon Bush paced Mercer with four goals apiece.

Hampton is back in action on Sunday, Feb. 9 at noon hosting Iona at Armstrong Stadium.