No. 10 Army Overpowers Mercer 16–7, Extends Perfect Start Behind Fountain and Plunkett

Black Knights move to 5–0 for the third straight season, dominate every phase in Macon

By J.J. Pavlick | Macon, Ga. | Feb. 23, 2026

#10 Army West Point doesn’t just travel; it invades. And on Monday morning in Georgia, the No. 10 Black Knights delivered another overwhelming performance, dismantling Mercer 16–7 to stay unbeaten and complete their second Peach State victory of the season.

Army (5–0) controlled the game from the opening faceoff to the final whistle, riding a five‑goal second quarter, a four‑goal third, and a defensive unit that suffocated Mercer’s offense into long, low‑percentage possessions. The win marks the third straight season the Black Knights have opened 5–0, a testament to a program that reloads instead of rebuilds.

The attack ran through Brayden Fountain and Evan Plunkett, who combined for 11 points and dictated the game’s rhythm. Fountain scored four goals, his second multi-goal outing of the year, while Plunkett posted a six-point day with three goals and three assists, quarterbacking an offense that outshot Mercer 39–38 but generated far higher-quality looks.

Army also dominated the possession game, winning 18 of 26 faceoffs, including a 7‑for‑14 performance from Caleb Caldwell, who added a goal and an assist in the fourth quarter.

Plunkett Opens the Floodgates

Army struck first for just the second time this season, with Plunkett ripping home the game’s opening goal at 12:52 of the first quarter. Mercer briefly countered with two unassisted goals, but the Black Knights responded with the kind of poise that has defined their early season.

Gunnar Fellows tied the game at 2–2 off a Plunkett feed, and Aiden Weisenborn pushed Army ahead 3–2 with 1:26 left in the first. From there, the Black Knights never trailed again.

A Five‑Goal Second Quarter Breaks Mercer

Army’s second quarter was a clinic in tempo, spacing, and execution.

Plunkett opened the period with his second goal just 61 seconds in, and the avalanche followed:

• Fountain at 10:54 (from Tyler Clark)
• Tommy Stines, a long-pole coast-to-coast finish at 8:08—his first career goal
• Hill Plunkett at 7:05 (from Fountain)
• Evan Plunkett completes his hat trick at 5:38 (from Cal Lambert)

Mercer managed a late goal, but Army carried an 8–3 lead into halftime and full control of the game’s pace.

Harney’s Dive, Fountain’s Flurry Seal It

The third quarter belonged to the Army Black Knight’s depth and relentlessness.

Mike Harney opened the half with a diving finish at 10:35, and Fountain added his second at 8:33. Mercer briefly cut the deficit to 10–4, but Fountain responded with two more goals—at 1:22 and 0:48—to push the lead to 12–4 entering the fourth.

Fountain finished with four goals on five shots, the most efficient performance of the day.

Caldwell’s 12‑Second Man‑Up Goal Sparks Final Surge

Army opened the fourth quarter with a man‑up strike from Ben Calabrese at 14:47, assisted by Plunkett. Ten seconds later, Caldwell won the faceoff clean and sprinted straight to the cage for his first goal of the season.

Army added goals from Tyler Mathews and Aiden Bross, both first‑career tallies, to stretch the lead to 16–5 before Mercer scored twice late.

Four Goalies, One Standard

Army used all four goalkeepers, and the standard never dipped.

• Sean Byrne: 50:00, 10 saves, 5 GA — the backbone of the defensive effort
• Evan Richardson: 1 save
• Tade Wynn: 2 saves
• Brady White: 1 save

Together, they combined for 14 saves, matching Mercer’s total shots on goal (14).

Army also won the ground‑ball battle 43–38, forced 18 turnovers, and held Mercer to 0‑for‑4 on extra‑man opportunities.

BOX SCORE HIGHLIGHTS

(All stats from Army West Point box score)

Scoring

• Fountain 4G, 1A
• E. Plunkett 3G, 3A
• Fellows 1G, 1A
• Calabrese, H. Plunkett, Weisenborn, Caldwell, Stines, Mathews, Harney, Bross — 1G each

Faceoffs

• Army 18–26
• Caldwell 7–14
• Murphy 1–9

Goalkeeping

• Byrne: 10 saves
• Richardson: 1 save
• Wynn: 2 saves
• White: 1 save

Team Stats

• Shots: Army 39, Mercer 38
• Ground Balls: Army 43, Mercer 38
• Turnovers: Army 26, Mercer 25
• Clears: Army 22–23, Mercer 25–36
• EMO: Army 1–1, Mercer 0–4

UP NEXT

Army returns to Michie Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 28, hosting Holy Cross in its Patriot League opener at noon.

Army didn’t just handle its business in Macon, Georgia; it dictated every inch of the field. Performances like this are why the Black Knights keep stacking 5–0 starts and why every team on their schedule feels the pressure long before opening faceoff. If you want coverage that actually matches the intensity of the program, the details, the context, and the edge, our newsletter is just $2 for the entire year.

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