Mercer University
Florida St.
Mercer Falls to No. 5 Florida State
9/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
MACON, Ga. – It was a hotly contested match on Sunday at Bear Field, as the Mercer University women's soccer team fell, 3-0, against No. 5 Florida State. The shutout moves the Bears to 1-3-1 on the season, but does not accurately illustrate the tempo of the match.
Coming off of their thrid straight double overtime game (against No. 25 Georgia) on Friday night, the Bears seemed refreshed and ready after the short layoff. Unfortunately, the game swayed in the Seminoles' favor early on after a Mercer foul in the box just five minutes into the game. The foul set up a penalty kick and FSU defender Toni Pressley capitalized on the Bears' miscue.
Mercer would respond and kept a clean sheet the remainder of the half as junior Cristina Guilarte continued her impressive play in net, stopping two other FSU scoring chances. Guilarte's two saves moves her season total to 17, which leads the team.
"You have to give it to Florida State," head coach Grant Serafy said. "They have a great program, great coach and very deserving of their top-five ranking."
Throughout much of the latter part of the opening half and midway through the second, the Bears were able to maintain possession and had a number of looks on goal. Mercer was outshot just 18-12, but led the Seminoles in shots on goal, 8-6.
"In terms of heart and effort, I was actually more pleased today than I was in the loss to Georgia," Serafy said. "I just thought they worked hard today, and it's good for us to demonstrate that we can play with heart against this caliber of competition. And that is what's most important to me today."
Down 2-0 after a solid goal by FSU's Tori Huster in the 60th minute, the Bears had their best opportunity to put the pressure on late in the ball game. Florida State had a penalty called on it inside the box that set up a Bears' penalty shot with just over two and half minutes to play. Junior Olivia Tucker took the try, but the shot was doused by FSU keeper Kelsey Wys as she dove to her right.
Florida State would counter on the next keeper punt and Wys was able to pin the ball deep in Mercer territory. FSU's Huster was able to settle the ball serve it in for a one-touch shot and goal by Lindsey Rice in 89th minute.
Mercer will continue its difficult non-conference schedule next weekend as it heads to Cullowhee, N.C. to play in the Catamount Classic hosted by Western Carolina. The Bears will face Atlantic 10 foe Xavier at 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 10 and Air Force of the Mountain West Conference at noon on Sunday Sept. 12.
