Bears Host Mercer Invitational This Weekend

Friday, August 25

Macon, Ga.

8 p.m. ET

Mercer University

Siena

8/24/2017 1:46:00 PM | Women's Soccer

By: Will Tharp

MACON, Ga. – Mercer's women's soccer team looks to go 3-0 for the first time in Head Coach Tony Economopoulos' career with the Bears when they host the Mercer Invitational this weekend.

Three other universities will be traveling to Macon to compete in the Invitational, including Georgia Southern, Kennesaw State and Siena. Georgia Southern and Kennesaw State will meet on Friday, Aug. 25 beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed by the Bears against Siena at 8 p.m. On Sunday, Aug. 27, Georgia Southern and Siena will begin the afternoon with a 1 p.m. match, with the Bears and Kennesaw State concluding the invitational at 6 p.m. All matches will be held at Bear Field.

FRIDAY'S MATCHUP
Date: Friday, Aug. 25 | 8 p.m.
Teams: Mercer (2-0-0) vs. Siena (1-0-0)
Location: Macon, Ga. | Bear Field
Live Stats: MercerBears.com/LiveStats
Twitter Updates: @MercerWSoccer

SERIES HISTORY | LAST MEETING
This will be the first meeting between the two teams.

SUNDAY'S MATCHUP
Date: Sunday, Aug. 27 | 6 p.m.
Teams: Mercer (2-0-0) vs. Kennesaw State (1-0-1)
Location: Macon, Ga. | Bear Field
Live Stats: MercerBears.com/LiveStats
Twitter Updates: @MercerWSoccer

SERIES HISTORY | LAST MEETING
Mercer enters Sunday's matchup holding a 3-8-1 all-time record against Kennesaw State. In the most recent meeting between the two squads last season, the Bears dropped a 4-2 decision on the road to the Owls. After falling behind 3-0 in the first half, Mercer's Maddie Clark netted two penalty kick goals but the home team held strong to prevail.

NOTABLES

The Mercer goalkeepers have protected the net very effectively to start the season, producing two shutouts with five combined saves.
Last time on the pitch, the Bears outshot Montevallo 19-3, with five shots on target.
Freshman Sarah Adcock scored the game-winner for the Bears in the 61^st minute, assisted by Alina McCue
Junior Caroline Smith helped lift the Bears to a thrilling 1-0 victory at Troy Aug. 18, scoring the game's only goal at the 83:41 mark.
With their win at Troy, the Bears are now 4-3-1 in season openers over the past eight years.
The Bears broke the Trojans' 11-0 record in home non-conferences games over the last three seasons, in front of 1,114 fans – the second-largest crowd in Troy soccer history.
After their match Sunday, the Bears will travel to Milwaukee, Wis., to compete in the Marquette Invitational, facing off with Loyola Chicago on Sept. 1 at 4 p.m. and then Marquette on Sept. 3 at 8:30 p.m.

SCOUTING THE SAINTS
Siena kicked off its 2017 campaign with a 3-1 victory over Lafayette last Sunday. The Saints outshot their opponent 13-10 in the match, connecting on a penalty kick early in the second half. Sophomore goalkeeper Taylor Dorado was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Monday for her performance in the win over Lafayette.

SCOUTING THE OWLS
Kennesaw State opened its 2017 season with a 1-1 draw at Winthrop on Aug. 18. The Owls earned their first win of the year when they defeated Georgia State, 4-3, in Atlanta, Ga., last Sunday. The Owls have been outshot by opponents 23-18 so far this season. Goalkeeper Mady Carter has grabbed six saves on the season for Kennesaw State.

2017 Mercer Invitational Schedule

Date	Matchup	Time (ET)	Follow Live
Aug. 25	Kennesaw State vs. Georgia Southern	5:30 p.m.	Live Stats
Aug. 25	Siena vs. Mercer	8:00 p.m.	Live Stats
Aug. 27	Georgia Southern vs. Siena	1:00 p.m.	Live Stats
Aug. 27	Kennesaw State vs. Mercer	6:00 p.m.	Live Stats

Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Women's Soccer, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerWSoccer (Twitter), /MercerWSoccer (Facebook) and @MercerWSoccer (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.

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