Mercer University
Neb.-Omaha
Mercer Takes Care of Business in 2-0 Win over Nebraska Omaha
9/23/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
OMAHA, Neb. – The Mercer men's soccer team made sure it enters Atlantic Sun Conference play on a high note after a dominating 2-0 road victory over Nebraska Omaha on Friday evening in front of 1,488 fans at Werner Park.
Mercer (4-3-1) out-shot Nebraska Omaha (1-5-0) 14-11, including an 11-3 edge in shots on goal, in a game that got testy at times and featured 35 combined fouls.
In the first-ever meeting between the two clubs and the Bears first visit to Nebraska since 2005, it didn't take long for the visitors to make their mark in the Cornhusker State. Junior Josh Shutter put a long throw right into the middle of the box that freshman Ashani Samuels jumped up and headed into the back of the net to give Mercer a 1-0 lead less than a minute into the game.
That would be all the scoring for both sides in a back-and-forth first half that ended with the Orange and Black holding the 1-0 advantage.
Sophomore Ehjayson Henry broke a lull in the action in the second stanza when he orchestrated a run in the box and tried to slide in a shot low past UNO goalkeeper Josh Christensen, but the attempt was cleared off the line by a Nebraska Omaha defender to keep the score 1-0.
The Orange and Black kept pressing on, however, and put the game out of reach in the 81st minute. Junior Joey Heavner curled a ball in behind the Mavericks defense that classmate Will Betts flicked over Christensen's head to give Mercer a 2-0 lead.
That would be all the scoring in the contest, as Mercer goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh made three saves to record his third career and second-straight shutout.
Mercer returns to Macon for the beginning of A-Sun Conference play next weekend, starting with a match-up against North Florida on September 29. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Bear Field.
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