Mercer University
Furman
Men's Soccer Falls to Furman, 1-0, in SoCon Final
11/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Mercer men's soccer team dropped a heartbreaking 1-0 decision to Furman in the Southern Conference Championship on Saturday night.
Mercer finished the season with a 14-7 record after going 8-2 in the SoCon and winning the regular season title. Furman improved to 12-5-3 and earned the SoCon's automatic bid for the NCAA Tournament.
The Bears had three players named to the All-Tournament Team, with Will Bagrou, Greg Ranjitsingh and Ashani Samuels all being honored.
After 80 scoreless minutes and neither team managing to get many chances at goal, it looked as it the game would go to overtime. However, Lewis Hawke headed the ball into the goal in the 82nd minute to put Furman up 1-0.
The Bears had a couple of good looks in the final minutes of the match, but were unable to put the ball in the back of the net to force an overtime period.
The Paladins led the Bears in shots, 10-6, but Mercer controlled the corner kick count, 8-2. In goal, Ranjitsingh made three saves. The Bears were also credited with a team save, which came in the 11th minute after a Mercer defender blocked a Furman shot with his body.
Mercer's first season in the SoCon was highly successful, as the Bears notched a program-record 14 wins and snagged the SoCon Coach, Goalkeeper and Freshman of the Year honors.
