Mercer University
Southern Miss.
Women's Soccer Opens Economopoulos Era with 1-1 Tie
8/17/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer women's soccer team battled for 110 minutes, but eventually settled for a 1-1 tie against Southern Mississippi in head coach Tony Economopoulos' debut on Friday evening at Bear Field.
Mercer (0-0-1) out-shot Southern Miss 17-10, including an 8-3 edge in shots on goal, and held a commanding 10-0 edge in corner kicks in the contest.
The Bears dominated the run of the play early on and took an early lead in the 26th minute of play. Sophomore Lauren Gassie received a mid-field service from senior Patricia-Anne Upson, headed it over Southern Miss goalkeeper Lindsey Schwaner 's head and guided a touch shot into the back of the net to make the score 1-0.
The Orange and Black had a golden chance to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the second half when they were awarded a penalty kick after junior Nadja Kolliesuah was taken down in the box. Gassie stepped up to the attempt and fired in a shot that was saved by Schwaner to keep the Golden Eagles down just one, at 1-0.
Southern Miss took advantage of the misstep in a big way with just over four minutes left in the contest. Junior Chelsea Cruthirds tracked down a free kick service from classmate Danielle Beatty and headed it past Mercer goalkeeper Nikki Atkinson to tie the game up at 1-1.
After the end of regulation, neither team was able to muster any quality offensive chances in either overtime period to break the eventual 1-1 stalemate.
Atkinson made two saves for the Bears in the contest while Schwaner made seven saves for the Golden Eagles.
Mercer returns to the pitch on Sunday afternoon when it welcomes Sun Belt Conference member South Alabama into town. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Bear Field.
