Shannon Urey's 5 Goals, Late Defensive Stand Lead Mercer to Big South Crown

Shannon Urey is quietly one of the top scorers in Division I. She played like a player deserving of more attention on Sunday afternoon in the Big South championship game.

Urey deposited five goals on six shots — giving her 82 goals this spring — and Kayla Soltys scored a pivotal goal with 4:15 remaining, as Mercer wrapped up its second straight Big South title with an 11-10 win over Campbell.

MERCER IS HEADED TO THE TOURNAMENT @MercerWLAX holds off @GoCamelsWLAX to win the @BigSouthSports title. pic.twitter.com/mB5ELboWBJ

— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) May 7, 2023

Down 11-9, Campbell (12-7) cut the deficit to one on Ally Heath’s goal with 3:37 left. Campbell had multiple attempts to tie in the final seconds, but one shot hit a post and the other went wide.

The first half didn’t look like a game that would end as close as it did. Mercer (17-2) led 8-3 on Urey’s fifth goal, and the Bears went into the half up 8-4. Campbell erupted out of the break, scoring four of the first five goals of the second half, cutting it to 9-8.

Kileigh Casey scored a crucial player-down goal for Mercer to make it 10-8, and Heath responded to make it 10-9. Solty’s goal was the difference six minutes later.