Mercer University
Stetson
Bears Drop another Overtime Heartbreaker to Stetson, 1-0
10/9/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
DELAND, Fla. –For the second game in a row, the Mercer men's soccer team came out on the wrong end of an overtime result, falling 1-0 to Stetson on Sunday evening at a rain soaked Stetson Soccer Complex.
Due to extremely poor field conditions caused by a continuous rain and wind gusts of up to 30 miles an hour, neither team was able to get anything going over the first 20 minutes of the contest. The first scoring chance of the game came in the 21st minute when freshman Elias Beates got behind the Mercer defense and fired a shot that went just over the crossbar.
Mercer had a quality scoring chance of its own in the 35th minute when junior Joey Heavner whipped a free kick in that Stetson goalkeeper Andreas Schnabl turned aside for the save.
Sophomore Evan Jimmo broke a lull to start the second half in the 63rd minute when he headed a free kick on net, but freshman Greg Ranjitsingh was in position to make the save and keep the game scoreless.
The Bears came right back less than three minutes later when Heavner collected a loose ball in the box and fired a shot on net that Schnabl slapped aside to keep the score 0-0.
That is the way things would stay as neither team could find the back of the net resulting in a 0-0 tie after 90 minutes of regulation.
Stetson found some open space in the first overtime period in the middle of the Bears defense and made them pay. Senior Ryan Asare-Bediako made a quick dribble slashed through the top of the box and fired a low shot past Ranjitsingh to give the home team a 1-0 victory.
Ranjitsingh made a career-high five saves in a losing effort while Schnabl recorded two saves to preserve the win.
Mercer returns home to take on Central Arkansas in a non-conference match-up on October 15. Game time is scheduled for 12 p.m. on Bear Field.
