MACON, Ga. (Jan. 31, 2026) … Anthony Bardonille Jr. paced the Pirates with three goals in his first collegiate game as Hampton (0-1) fell to Mercer (1-0) 18-9 Saturday afternoon. 

Mercer jumped out to a hot start, ripping off eight first quarter goals, but Hampton quickly responded to start the second quarter when Maliik Wood scored the first goal of the season for the Pirates with 12:19 left in the quarter. After two goals by the Bears, Bardonille Jr. scored his first goal in a Pirate uniform bringing the score to 10-2 with 6:29 left in the first half. 

Darius Stanley scored with 4:02 left in the first half before Wood added his second of the game, as Hampton trailed 13-4 at the break. 

After three quick Mercer goals to start the second half, Payton Riddle settled the Pirates in with a goal. The fourth quarter proved to be Hampton's best of the afternoon. Stanley scored his second of the afternoon with 8:43 remaining in the frame before Bardonille Jr. and Reed Shaw scored three goals in the span of the final 2:30 to close out the game with Mercer taking down Hampton 18-9.

Bardonille Jr. three goals was the first hat trick from a freshman since the 2018 season. He also assisted on three goals. Stanley and Wood each registered two goals a piece, while Shaw rounded out the Pirates scoring. Miles Lancaster recorded 16 saves in his first game for the Pirates after transferring from Marist. Dillon Bush paced the Bears with seven goals on the afternoon, while Michael Frederick added four. 

UP NEXT:
Hampton returns to action Tuesday when they travel to Towson to take on NJIT.