University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
3-0, 0-0
Mercer
3-1, 0-0
Dominant Second Half Lifts No. 5/6 Spiders to 15-5 Win Over Mercer
02/16/2026 | Men's Lacrosse
Richmond, Va. – The University of Richmond men's lacrosse team used a dominant second half to pull away from Mercer Monday afternoon, turning a tight game into a decisive 15-5 victory and improving to 3-0 for the first time since 2017.
While Richmond held a slight 5-4 lead in the first half, the Spiders, now ranked as high as five in the national polls, unleashed 25 shots in the second half while limiting Mercer to just 11. The Spiders' second-half shot total matched Mercer's output for the entire game, supported by a Richmond defense led by Hunter Smith with a game-high three caused turnovers. Goalie Connor Knight recorded eight saves in the win as Richmond held Mercer to one goal over the final 30 minutes and scoreless over the final 21:00.
Richmond opened the scoring 10 seconds into the game when Lucas Littlejohn finished a pass from freshman faceoff man Vincent Gaylord immediately off the draw for Gaylord's first career point. Mercer responded to tie the score at 1-1 and later evened the game again at 2-2 after first-quarter goals from Aidan O'Neil and Gavin Creo gave the Spiders the lead. Richmond carried a 3-2 advantage into the second quarter.
In the second, Littlejohn scored his second goal of the day off an assist from O'Neil to make it 4-2. Mercer answered with two goals to tie the game at 4-4. O'Neil then scored with 2:23 remaining in the half to send Richmond into the break with a 5-4 lead.
Richmond took control in the third quarter. Gavin Creo scored off an assist from O'Neil, and O'Neil followed with another goal to extend the lead to 7-4. Jack Ricciardi added a goal off an assist from Joe Sheridan, and Daniel Picart scored to make it 9-4. Mercer recorded its only goal of the second half with 6:00 remaining in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 9-5 heading into the fourth.
The Spiders added the game's final six goals in the final period. Tanner Huber opened the quarter with a man-up goal assisted by O'Neil. Joe Sheridan scored off a pass from Creo, and Littlejohn added his third goal of the game from Ricciardi. Evan O'Neil then scored twice on back-to-back possessions, including a goal assisted by his brother, Aidan O'Neil, marking the first time the two connected on a goal and assisted one another in a game. Lucas Slate closed the scoring with 31 seconds remaining.
The Spiders limited Mercer to 17-of-23 on clearing attempts, applying consistent pressure, particularly in the ride throughout the second half, and finished with multiple caused turnovers across the defensive unit.
Richmond caps its four-game homestand when it hosts Lehigh at Robins Stadium at noon on Saturday, where the Spiders will look to match the best start in program history.
