nichols vs. high point
Andy Mead

Lacrosse

Lacrosse faces Mercer in home opener

LEXINGTON, Va. – The VMI lacrosse team returns to Lexington to face old SoCon foe Mercer Saturday morning for the 2026 home opener and the team's annual One Love game.
 
The first face-off is slated for 11 a.m. at Drill Field 2. The game will not be live streamed.
 
Broadcast Information
Live Stats
 
One Love Game
Saturday's game with the Bears marks the team's second annual One Love game.
 
The One Love Foundation is a national non-profit organization with the goal of ending relationship abuse. They work within communities of young people to empower them with the tools and resources they need to see the signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships and bring life-saving prevention education to these communities. One Love is founded in remembrance of Yeardley Love, a women's lacrosse player at the University of Virginia who tragically lost her life because of an abusive relationship.
 
There will be hot chocolate and hot cider available for fans; the table will also have One Love giveaways and educational information about the organization. 
 
About VMI (0-1)
The Keydets (0-1) fell to High Point last Saturday on the road and look to pick up their first win of the season and first for VMI first-year Head Coach Taylor Mendoza.  Despite the loss, the Keydets had multiple positives occur during the season opener that showed the team's potential in 2026.
 
Junior attackman Dayton Bagwell logged a team-high four goals to be named an NEC Prime Performer earlier this week, and senior midfielder Austin English had one goal which marked his 70th career goal as a Keydet. With the goal, he joined VMI's exclusive 70-Goal Club that only 17 Keydets in the school's 42-year program history have attained.
 
About the Bears (2-0)
Mercer is off to a great start to the season with two wins already under their belt against Hampton January 31 and an impressive 13-9 win over Marist this past Saturday. Both games were played in Macon, Georgia, as the Bears will be taking their first road trip of the year to Lexington.
 
Dillon Bush leads the team with nine goals over the two games while Michael Frederick and Will Zylstra both have seven.  
 
Series History (4-8)
In the all-time series dating back to 2011, the Keydets won the first two contests in 2011 and 2012 before falling to the Bears in eight straight contests from 2013-21 as dual members of the Atlantic Sun/Southern Conference.
 
VMI turned the corner with a 13-10 win in Lexington in 2022 and won again last season with a 14-11 victory in Macon.
 
 
 

 
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Players Mentioned

Dayton Bagwell

#55 Dayton Bagwell

A/M
6' 0"
Sophomore
Austin English

#7 Austin English

M
6' 0"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Dayton Bagwell

#55 Dayton Bagwell

6' 0"
Sophomore
A/M
Austin English

#7 Austin English

6' 0"
Junior
M