In the first game of the 2021 season, the Bellarmine Knights bested the Mercer Bears, 9-7. Despite being held scoreless in the second stanza, the Bellarmine Knights battled and pulled off the victory.
Buoyed by Ian Reilly and his 10 saves for Bellarmine that offset Colin Kelly and his 6 stops. Mercer budding superstar, Ashton Wood (1g) won the opening faceoff and buried it behind Reilly just :07 elapsed. Budding superstar? Wood was an unworldly 18 of 19 from the “x”.

Erik Rubek (2g) and Kyle Playsted (1g,1a) three minutes apart closed the first with the Knights in front, 2-1. The second was all Mercer and Collin Stewart (2g,2a), Will McCarthy (1g), and Taylor Dooley (1g) supplied the offense to close the half with Mercer holding a 4-2 edge.
Bellarmine stormed out with a 4 goal run fueled by Luke Legnard (1g), a pair from Jesse Roth (2g), and a single from Griffin Bowie (1g) to surge to a 6-4 lead. Mercer took the hits and bounced back with markers from Stewart and Patrick Marks (1g) to set the stage for the crazy finish with the teams knotted you at 6.
Rubak and Benny O’Rourk (1g) scores less than 2:00 apart and promptly said…”see you, raise you!” Nick Rockefeller (1g) made it white knuckle time and with 6:56 to play, we had a one-goal game. Playsted set up Brayden Brown (1g,1a) to bring the final to 9-7.
Bellarmine Knights bested the Mercer Bears. For more lacrosse action click here.
Kevin M. Neibauer
- Writer
- LaxPhilly
- A Division of the Edge of Philly Sports Network


Kevin has followed and promoted the game of lacrosse since May 19, 1974.
The same day the Philadelphia Flyers won the Cup, the Philadelphia Wings were introduced to Neibauer and Philadelphia.
Kevin has covered many sports, including baseball, football, basketball, and.. lacrosse. A former licensed football referee and baseball umpire, Kevin brings a unique insight to his game coverage.
A published writer in JustHockey Magazine, Kevin covered the American Hockey League as well as a monthly story on a pugilist where Kevin used the pen name, The Rink Rat. Neibauer turned his attentions to lacrosse for a few years and does his part, whether podcasting or writing to grow the game. Kevin branched out to his roots and currently provides insight for all Philadelphia teams for Edge of Philly as well as his full-time duties with LaxPhilly.