Bears Outlast Ospreys in Physical Second Half

Friday, August 24

Jacksonville, Fla.

7 P.M.

Mercer University

1-0-0, 0-0-0

North Florida

0-1-0, 0-0-0

Mercer

North Florida

Photo by: Judy Stapleton

Bears Outlast Ospreys in Physical Second Half

8/24/2018 10:38:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Martineau and Arteaga score in the season opener to lift Bears to 2-1 victory

By: David Fox

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Mercer poured on shot after shot in the second half to apply the pressure on North Florida, but it would be Roberto Arteaga's penalty kick in the 84^th minute that lifted Mercer to the 2-1 victory over the Ospreys. Friday's match served as the season opener with Mercer improving to 1-0 following the victory.

STAT OF THE MATCH
After a tight first half in which the Bears outshot UNF 6-5, Mercer revved to a new level in the second half to outshoot the Ospreys 10-2. Mercer claimed a 16-7 advantage in shots on goal, including 5-3 in shots on goal.

MAN OF THE MATCH
Trevor Martineau proved to be a difference maker for Mercer in the season opener. The freshman forward logged 52 minutes and tallied four shots, including two on frame. Martineau's first strike of the match was the equalizer, a nifty header into the near side of the net after the delivery from Jake Mezei.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Both squads tallied just one shot on goal in the first 20 minutes of play, with both attempts being stoned in front of the net. The Ospreys then jumped on the board in the 21^st minute after being granted a penalty kick that was buried by Mikey Connell.

The Bears received a big boost from their big 6'4" freshman Trevor Martineau in the 30^th minute of play. The Texas native entered the match in the 23^rd minute and made an impact shortly after with his first collegiate goal. Mezei delivered the ball from the left side as Martineau soared above the defense to bury the header into the near side for the equalizer.

The Bears nearly jumped ahead in the 50^th minute after Dawson Gideon swiped the ball from the UNF backline and raced towards frame. Gideon delivered a strike that was turned away by the Ospreys' keeper. However, the ball wound up at the feet of Martineau, who then laced a shot towards the left side of the net. Martineau's attempt snuck past the goalie but bounced harmlessly off the post, denying the Texas native of his second goal in the match.

Mercer finally gained the opportunity it was looking for in the 84^th minute when UNF's Nick Burgess batted the ball down with his hand inside his own box. The Bears were granted the penalty kick and Arteaga wasted no time in putting the Orange & Black on top with a rifle on target for the 2-1 victory.

NOTABLES

Mercer is now 3-2 in its last five season openers, while also improving to 7-5-1 all-time against the former ASUN foe.
Friday's night's match also proved to be physical with both teams combining for 40 fouls and seven yellow cards.
Mercer's freshmen played with poise tonight, combining for 11 of the Bear's 16 shots.
Michael Ille and Martineau led the Bears with four shots apiece, while Martineau paced the squad in shots on goal (2).

RECORDS UPDATE

Mercer: 1-0-0
UNF: 0-1-0

NEXT MATCH

Mercer at Jacksonville on Sunday, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. at Southern Oak Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla.

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