Mercer Seeks to Repeat Success at UNCG Saturday

Saturday, October 15

Greensboro, N.C.

7 PM

Mercer University

UNCG

Nickolas Tripodi vs. Furman at Bear Field

Photo by: Bill Hirsh

Mercer Seeks to Repeat Success at UNCG Saturday

10/14/2016 3:21:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Live Stats Watch ESPN

MACON, Ga. – Less than two weeks after Mercer handed UNCG its first Southern Conference loss of the season at Bear Field, the Bears will look to complete the head-to-head regular season sweep of the Spartans on Saturday, Oct. 15 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The match starts at 7 p.m. at UNCG Soccer Stadium and will be broadcast on ESPN3.

The SoCon-leading Bears (9-4-0, 4-1-0) struck quick against UNCG (7-4-2, 3-2-0) in their 2-1 victory on Oct. 4 as Conner Antley netted his second goal of the season only 92 seconds into the match. Trenton Whitely would add the eventual game-winner in the 15th minute, giving the Bears enough cushion to withstand a goal by the Spartans in the 86th minute.

Mercer has since vaulted into sole possession of first place in the SoCon standings – a slot UNCG sat in prior to the loss at Bear Field – thanks to a three-match win streak that started with the victory over the Spartans.

SATURDAY'S MATCHUP
Location: Greensboro, N.C. – UNCG Soccer Stadium
Schedule: Saturday, Oct. 15 – 7 p.m.
Watch: ESPN3
Follow Along: Live Stats
Twitter Updates: @Mercer_MSoccer

SERIES HISTORY
The two programs will go head-to-head for the 10th time on Saturday as Mercer attempts to even the series at five wins apiece. Mercer improved to 4-5 all-time in the last meeting.

NOTABLES

Mercer's nine total wins and four conference wins are the most of any SoCon team.
Saturday's matchup features the SoCon's top-two points leaders in Will Bagrou and UNCG's Damieon Thomas. Ironically, neither player notched a point in the teams' previous meeting on Oct. 4.
Bagrou has recorded at least one point in three of Mercer's five SoCon matches, including three points over the last two matches.
Goalkeeper Jeremy Booth made six saves against the Spartans on Oct. 4, tying a season-high for the redshirt junior.
Ian Antley recorded his first point of the season in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over Furman. The senior has played all but two minutes of the Bears' season.
Mercer continues to own five of the 10 fastest goals scored by SoCon players this year, including the top-three by Bagrou (2) and Conner Antley (1).

SCOUTING UNCG
Since Mercer handed UNCG the 2-1 loss on Oct. 4, the Spartans are 1-1 in a pair of matches against ETSU and Wofford that required extra time. UNCG dropped a 4-3 decision at home to the Buccaneers on Oct. 8 before earning its third SoCon victory of the season by defeating Wofford, 2-1, on Tuesday.

The Spartans have scored double-digit goals in seven matches this season and rank second among conference teams in goals scored (23). Senior forward Damieon Thomas has continued to be one of the league's most potent offensive threats, leading all players with 16 points, 36 total shots and an average of 2.77 shots per game. Thomas is tied for the league-lead in goals scored (6) with Mercer's Bagrou.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE BEARS
For complete coverage of Mercer Men's Soccer, please follow the Bears on social media at @Mercer_MSoccer (Twitter) and /MercerMSoccer (Facebook) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.