Bears Set for SoCon Home Opener Against VMI Friday

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer women's soccer squad will host their Southern Conference home-opener this Friday, Sept 28, matching up with the VMI Keydets. The Bears will then turn focus to hosting the UNCG Spartans at 2 p.m. (ET) on Sunday (9/30).

FRIDAY'S MATCHUP
Date: Friday, Sept. 28 | 7 p.m. (ET)
Teams: VMI (6-1-1, 0-1-0) at Mercer (5-3-4, 0-0-2)
Location: Macon, Ga. | Betts Stadium
Live Stats: ESPN3
Live Stats: MercerBears.com/LiveStats
Twitter Updates: @MercerWSoccer

SUNDAY'S MATCHUP
Date: Sunday, Sept. 30 | 2 p.m. (ET)
Teams: UNCG (6-2-1, 1-0-0) Mercer (5-3-4, 0-0-2)
Location: Macon, Ga. | Betts Stadium
Live Video: ESPN3
Live Stats: MercerBears.com/LiveStats
Twitter Updates: @MercerWSoccer

SERIES HISTORY | LAST MEETING
Mercer owns a 4-1 advantage in the all-time series. VMI earned their first win over Mercer last season (10/22/18), topping the Bears 1-0 in Lexington, Va. UNCG leads 5-1-1 in the head to head over Mercer, taking last year's decision (10/20/18) 1-0 in Greensboro, N.C.

NOTABLES

The Bears' 2-1 victory over Jacksonville State (9/9/18) marked Head Coach Tony Economopoulos' 70^th career win at Mercer. Economopoulos became the winningest coach in program history earlier this season when Mercer shutout Davidson (8/31/18) 3-0.
Mercer leads the Southern Conference and is third in the country in goals scored, netting 32 on the season. Mercer is also first in the conference in total points (86).
Mercer leads the Southern Conference in corners with 80 on the season, for an average of 6.67 per outing.
The Bears aggressive style of play has the team atop the league in total fouls, racking up 130 on the year.
Sophomore forward Abigial Zoeller is first in the in league in both total shots (52) and total points (22). Zoeller has recorded team-highs in both goals (8) and assists (6).
Fourteen different Bears have scored this season, which leads the nation in most players with at least one goal.
Jordyn Ebert has seen 862 minutes in goal and has 40 saves, a .816 save percentage and a .94 goals against average.
Payton Jamieson has also seen action in between the posts, starting the last six matches, allowing three goals and earning 12 saves in 325 minutes of play.

SCOUTING THE KEYDETS
VMI enters Friday's matchup holding a 6-1-1, most recently dropping a 4-0 decision to UNCG last Friday. VMI leads the Southern Conference in fewest goals allowed, only giving up five goals through their first eight matches. VMI also leads the conference in shutouts (6). The Keydets are led by Sierra Brewer who leads the team in points (9) and goals (4). Ceci Keppeler has seen the majority of time in front of the net for VMI this season recording five shutouts. Keppeler has allowed only four goals and holds a .857 save percentage. The Keydets are coached by Chris Bergmann who enters his fourth season at the helm.

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
UNCG will open matchup with The Citadel Friday night before to Macon to take on the Bears. The Spartans finished non-conference play with a 5-2-1 overall record. The Spartans are second in the league in fewest goals allowed, giving up eight over the season. Cienna Rideout leads the team in total points (15) netting a team-high seven goals and assisting on one this season. Aiyannah Tyler-Cooper has seen action in between the posts in all nine outings, recording 33 saves while allowing eight goals in 804 minutes played. The Spartans are led by Head Coach Michael Coll who enters his fifth season at Samford.

UP NEXT
Following play this weekend, the Bears will head to Charleston, S.C. to take on The Citadel Bulldogs next Friday, Oct. 5 beginning at 4 p.m.

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.

Bears Set for SoCon Home Opener Against VMI Friday

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