Tuesday, September 27
Macon, Ga.
7 PM
Mercer University
6-3, 1-0SoCon
2
vs
0
Wofford
5-3, 0-1SoCon
1
2
F
Wofford
0
0
0
Mercer
2
0
2
Team Stats
WOF
MER
Goals
0
2
Shots
1
10
Shots on Goal
0
5
Saves
3
0
Corners
4
7
Fouls
9
7
Scoring Plays
Will Bagrou (5)
Assisted By: Roberto Arteaga
From 20 yards out on right side, beat go
0:26
Conner Antley (2)
Assisted By: Trenton Whitely
Header goal off corner kick assist
19:20
Game Leaders
Shots
4
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
MF
/ Men's SoccerMF
/ Men's SoccerF
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's SoccerMF/D
/ Men's Soccer
Photo by: Bill Hirsh
Mercer Blanks Wofford to Open SoCon Play
9/27/2016 10:13:00 PM | Men's Soccer
MACON, Ga. – Brad Ruzzo wanted to see more scoring opportunities out of his team Tuesday night, so much so that the Mercer head coach went with a new lineup. The changes worked as Will Bagrou scored only 26 seconds into the match as he was backed by a defense that didn't allow a Wofford shot in the final 86 minutes in a 2-0 win.
The victory for Mercer (6-3, 1-0 Southern) gives the Bears an important three points on the Southern Conference tables while Wofford (5-3, 0-1) extends its winless streak against Mercer to four matches.
Most impressively, Mercer's defense shut down a Terrier attack that entered Tuesday's match leading the conference in goals per game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Will Bagrou started the Mercer offense off quickly, scoring just 26 seconds into the match from 20 yards out after a pass from Roberto Arteaga gave him a one-on-one with Joe Wichmann, Wofford's goalkeeper. Wichmann came out to cover the ball but Bagrou beat him, moved to the right to sidestep Wichmann and scored on an empty net.
In the 20th minute Conner Antley scored on a header as Trenton Whitely set up the set piece perfectly for Mercer off a corner kick.
STAT OF THE MATCH
26 seconds. That's how quickly Will Bagrou struck to give Mercer the 1-0 lead. That also marks the fastest goal of any Southern Conference player this year. Bagrou actually has the two fastest goals in the SoCon this year as he scored just 90 seconds into Mercer's Sept. 17 match against Georgia Southern.
STAT OF THE MATCH – PART II
Mercer goalkeeper Jeremy Booth made zero saves Tuesday night. While Wofford only got one shot off – in the fourth minute of the match – it was not on goal and that marked the only shot Wofford would muster all night.
MAN OF THE MATCH
When it takes you less than a minute to score, how can it be anyone else? Will Bagrou not only scored quickly, the goal marked his fifth of the season. That ranks second in the Southern Conference this season.
QUOTING BRAD RUZZO
"This is a tough league and we play a double round-robin so they are going to be ready for us when we go to their place. You really do have to take care of your home games. We had to regroup. We had a tough week last week. I felt like our guys were able to regroup and had a lot more energy tonight. I am really proud of them for coming out and getting a good result tonight against a good team."
On Will Bagrou being able to score early:
"I just think he has a knack in reading where the ball is going to go. Obviously our team knows how to play to him and his strengths. It was great. He had a breakaway in that first goal and he tucked it away. He had one last week in a game and missed it. He just has to keep coming and plugging away because he is going to have those opportunities. Like I said before, he is one of our go-to guys in the attack and he has to perform at a level he can perform at to be successful."
On the team not letting up after taking a 2-0 lead:
"I think even when it was 2-0 just 20 minutes in, we had a couple opportunities off the line. It would have been nice to get the third goal – I thought we were really close in the second half to end the game. But on top of that, our defending group as a team only allowed one shot on the night. That is pretty impressive in a 90-minute match in a conference game. We were solid in the back and solid in goal. I am really proud of those guys."
NOTABLES
NEXT MATCH
Mercer heads to Johnson City, Tennessee on Saturday, Oct. 1 for a 7 p.m. tilt against ETSU (4-3-1, 0-0-1 SoCon). The Bucs played to a scoreless tie at No. 25 Furman Tuesday evening.
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.
The victory for Mercer (6-3, 1-0 Southern) gives the Bears an important three points on the Southern Conference tables while Wofford (5-3, 0-1) extends its winless streak against Mercer to four matches.
Most impressively, Mercer's defense shut down a Terrier attack that entered Tuesday's match leading the conference in goals per game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Will Bagrou started the Mercer offense off quickly, scoring just 26 seconds into the match from 20 yards out after a pass from Roberto Arteaga gave him a one-on-one with Joe Wichmann, Wofford's goalkeeper. Wichmann came out to cover the ball but Bagrou beat him, moved to the right to sidestep Wichmann and scored on an empty net.
In the 20th minute Conner Antley scored on a header as Trenton Whitely set up the set piece perfectly for Mercer off a corner kick.
STAT OF THE MATCH
26 seconds. That's how quickly Will Bagrou struck to give Mercer the 1-0 lead. That also marks the fastest goal of any Southern Conference player this year. Bagrou actually has the two fastest goals in the SoCon this year as he scored just 90 seconds into Mercer's Sept. 17 match against Georgia Southern.
STAT OF THE MATCH – PART II
Mercer goalkeeper Jeremy Booth made zero saves Tuesday night. While Wofford only got one shot off – in the fourth minute of the match – it was not on goal and that marked the only shot Wofford would muster all night.
MAN OF THE MATCH
When it takes you less than a minute to score, how can it be anyone else? Will Bagrou not only scored quickly, the goal marked his fifth of the season. That ranks second in the Southern Conference this season.
QUOTING BRAD RUZZO
"This is a tough league and we play a double round-robin so they are going to be ready for us when we go to their place. You really do have to take care of your home games. We had to regroup. We had a tough week last week. I felt like our guys were able to regroup and had a lot more energy tonight. I am really proud of them for coming out and getting a good result tonight against a good team."
On Will Bagrou being able to score early:
"I just think he has a knack in reading where the ball is going to go. Obviously our team knows how to play to him and his strengths. It was great. He had a breakaway in that first goal and he tucked it away. He had one last week in a game and missed it. He just has to keep coming and plugging away because he is going to have those opportunities. Like I said before, he is one of our go-to guys in the attack and he has to perform at a level he can perform at to be successful."
On the team not letting up after taking a 2-0 lead:
"I think even when it was 2-0 just 20 minutes in, we had a couple opportunities off the line. It would have been nice to get the third goal – I thought we were really close in the second half to end the game. But on top of that, our defending group as a team only allowed one shot on the night. That is pretty impressive in a 90-minute match in a conference game. We were solid in the back and solid in goal. I am really proud of those guys."
NOTABLES
- Mercer is now unbeaten (3-0-1) in its last four meetings against Wofford.
- With the win, Mercer is now 6-2-1 all-time against the Terriers.
- Will Bagrou's goal just 26 seconds in to the match is the fastest any Southern Conference player has scored this season. After scoring 90 seconds into the match against Georgia Southern on Sept. 17, Bagrou has the two fastest goals in the league this year.
- The blank sheet for Mercer marked the third shutout of the year.
NEXT MATCH
Mercer heads to Johnson City, Tennessee on Saturday, Oct. 1 for a 7 p.m. tilt against ETSU (4-3-1, 0-0-1 SoCon). The Bucs played to a scoreless tie at No. 25 Furman Tuesday evening.
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.
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