North Florida Edges Mercer in Men’s Soccer Exhibition Match

Saturday, August 20

Jacksonville, Fla.

7 PM

Mercer University

North Florida (Exh.)

OT 2

Mercer

North Florida

North Florida Edges Mercer in Men’s Soccer Exhibition Match

8/20/2016 9:51:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Mercer men's soccer team traveled to the University of North Florida for a preseason exhibition match against the Ospreys on Saturday evening. The hosts pulled out a 2-1 victory over the Bears. The tune-up consisted of three 35 minute sessions.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Quality defending was the theme of the first half, as both teams locked down and did not allow a goal in the opening 35 minutes. Shortly after play resumed in the second, North Florida claimed the breakthrough goal to take a 1-0 lead with Khalil Lavelanet finding the back of the net.

A little less than 20 minutes later Mercer responded, as freshman Roberto Arteaga leveled the match at 1-1. Junior Will Bagrou recorded the assist as he crossed the ball inside the box and Arteaga buried the shot into the right side of the net on a one-time effort.

Unfortunately for the Orange and Black the lead would not last. Less than two minutes before the end of the second stanza the Ospreys regained the lead on a goal from outside the box off the foot of Bayley Cashion.

MAN OF THE MATCH
Although the stats do not count due to the contest being an exhibition, Arteaga's start to his Mercer career was impressive. The freshman unofficially opened his scoring account in his debut appearance. The Jonesboro, Georgia native scored the Bear's lone goal and finished the nights with two shots, both on target.

STAT OF THE GAME
All the action occurred in the second session, as each of the match's three goals were scored between the 36^th and 70^th minute on Saturday.

UP NEXT
Mercer opens the regular season on Friday, August 26, as the Bears host Georgia State in an intrastate showdown. The match is slated to begin at 7 p.m. and admission is free.

STAY SOCIAL
For all the latest information and up-to-the-minute updates on Mercer men's soccer, please follow the team on Twitter at @Mercer_MSoccer.