Saturday, October 17
Macon, Ga.
6:00 PM
Mercer University
1-4-1, 0-0-0
1
vs
2
UAB
1-0-0, 0-0-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAB | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Mercer | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Photo by: Mitch Robinson
Bears Drop Fall Finale to Blazers, 2-1
10/17/2020 9:13:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Ally Fordham scored for the second time this season.
MACON, Ga. – Ally Fordham's second half goal put the Bears on the board, but Mercer was unable to equalize, falling to UAB, 2-1, in its fall finale. Â
The Blazers (1-0-0) attempted five shots to Mercer's two before they put one in the back of the net in the 20th minute, forcing the Bears to play from behind on senior night.
Undeterred, the Mercer backline was steady, and the offense began to come to life as the clock counted down the minutes in the first half. Cami Brown forced UAB's Anika Toth to make a save in the 34th minute, while Brie Pavol took back-to-back shots in the final minute of the half.
Mercer (1-4-1) surrendered a second goal less than two minutes into the second half, but the momentum quickly shifted in favor of the Bears from that point forward.
Madi Johnson's shot on goal in the 55th minute was stopped, but Jordan Lynn and Payton Schurr quickly followed with tries of their own as fireworks lit the night sky in Betts Stadium.
A UAB foul in the 64th minute proved to be what Mercer needed to get on scoreboard. Elizabeth Hargis attempted the free kick, sending it to Abigail Zoeller in the box, who flicked the ball to Fordham. Fordham headed the ball over the head of Sarah Francis Adair to make it a 2-1 contest.
In the final 26 minutes the Bears controlled the tempo, taking seven shots with three being on target. Kendall Cook had a chance at the equalizer in the 73rd minute, forcing Adair to make a diving stop, while Aliah Kitchens and Zoeller placed shots on the net late in the evening. A corner kick with just 34 ticks of the clock remaining sailed past the edge of the box, and UAB escaped with a 2-1 win in its season opener.
Mercer outshot its foe from Birmingham, 17-12, including 12-4 in the second half. The Bears had a 6-5 advantage in corner kicks.
Payton Jamieson started the match in goal and made three saves. Jordyn Ebert played the duration of the second half and was credited with two stops.
COACH ECONOMOPOULOS QUOTEABLES
ON SENIOR NIGHT
"I want to recognize our 11 senior student-athletes. They worked incredibly hard tonight. I was proud of their effort."
ON THE MATCH
"We were a second half team this fall. You have to credit UAB for its two goals. Our team really turned it on after that. I was proud of our resilient effort to press UAB in the second half. We outshout them 12-4 in the final half. We played well the last 45 minutes, but unfortunately we missed some opportunities in front of goal and couldn't equalize."
ON THE FALL
"It was a good fall. I am happy with the improvements we made in six matches. We still have some work to do. It was not the result we wanted tonight, but I thought we learned a lot about our team this fall. I feel that it will be a good spring for us."
NOTABLES
The Bears ended the fall portion of the season with a 1-4-1 record. Mercer's spring slate will be announced at a later date.
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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The Blazers (1-0-0) attempted five shots to Mercer's two before they put one in the back of the net in the 20th minute, forcing the Bears to play from behind on senior night.
Undeterred, the Mercer backline was steady, and the offense began to come to life as the clock counted down the minutes in the first half. Cami Brown forced UAB's Anika Toth to make a save in the 34th minute, while Brie Pavol took back-to-back shots in the final minute of the half.
Mercer (1-4-1) surrendered a second goal less than two minutes into the second half, but the momentum quickly shifted in favor of the Bears from that point forward.
Madi Johnson's shot on goal in the 55th minute was stopped, but Jordan Lynn and Payton Schurr quickly followed with tries of their own as fireworks lit the night sky in Betts Stadium.
A UAB foul in the 64th minute proved to be what Mercer needed to get on scoreboard. Elizabeth Hargis attempted the free kick, sending it to Abigail Zoeller in the box, who flicked the ball to Fordham. Fordham headed the ball over the head of Sarah Francis Adair to make it a 2-1 contest.
In the final 26 minutes the Bears controlled the tempo, taking seven shots with three being on target. Kendall Cook had a chance at the equalizer in the 73rd minute, forcing Adair to make a diving stop, while Aliah Kitchens and Zoeller placed shots on the net late in the evening. A corner kick with just 34 ticks of the clock remaining sailed past the edge of the box, and UAB escaped with a 2-1 win in its season opener.
Mercer outshot its foe from Birmingham, 17-12, including 12-4 in the second half. The Bears had a 6-5 advantage in corner kicks.
Payton Jamieson started the match in goal and made three saves. Jordyn Ebert played the duration of the second half and was credited with two stops.
COACH ECONOMOPOULOS QUOTEABLES
ON SENIOR NIGHT
"I want to recognize our 11 senior student-athletes. They worked incredibly hard tonight. I was proud of their effort."
ON THE MATCH
"We were a second half team this fall. You have to credit UAB for its two goals. Our team really turned it on after that. I was proud of our resilient effort to press UAB in the second half. We outshout them 12-4 in the final half. We played well the last 45 minutes, but unfortunately we missed some opportunities in front of goal and couldn't equalize."
ON THE FALL
"It was a good fall. I am happy with the improvements we made in six matches. We still have some work to do. It was not the result we wanted tonight, but I thought we learned a lot about our team this fall. I feel that it will be a good spring for us."
NOTABLES
- Prior to the match, Tony Economopoulos and his staff honored the team's 11 seniors.
- Lily Stauble, Rhette Cauilan and Jamieson, a trio of seniors, each earned the starting nod for the first time this season.
- The Bears took 17 shots, tying a season-high which was originally set against The Citadel in September.
- Mercer attempted six corners. In each of its six fall matches the team took more corners kicks than its opponent.
- Fordham joined Kitchens as the second Bear to score two goals this fall. Â
- Zoeller's first assist of the season puts her two away from the programs' all-time record.
The Bears ended the fall portion of the season with a 1-4-1 record. Mercer's spring slate will be announced at a later date.
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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Players Mentioned
D
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
F/MF
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
MF/F
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
MF/F
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
MF/D
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
MF/F
/ Women's SoccerTeam Stats
UAB
MER
Goals
2
1
Shots
12
17
Shots on Goal
7
7
Saves
6
5
Corners
4
6
Fouls
13
5
Scoring Plays
Regan Kommor (1)
Assisted By: Jessica Wheeler
GOAL by UAB Kommor, Regan Assist by Wheeler, Jessica.
19:25
Kristen Goodroe (1)
Assisted By: Morgan Halliwill , Erika Manfre
GOAL by UAB Goodroe, Kristen Assist by Halliwill, Morgan and Manfre, Erika.
46:45
Ally Fordham (2)
Assisted By: Elizabeth Hargis , Abigail Zoeller
GOAL by MER Fordham, Ally Assist by Hargis, Elizabeth and Zoeller, Abigail.
63:01
Game Leaders
mid
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
3
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
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