Bears Earn Crucial Overtime Victory at The Citadel

Friday, March 12

Charleston, S.C.

3:00 PM

Mercer University

5-7-1, 2-2-1

The Citadel

6-6-2, 1-3-1

Mercer

The Citadel

Photo by: Kurt Ebert

Bears Earn Crucial Overtime Victory at The Citadel

3/12/2021 6:20:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Ally Fordham scored the match-winning goal.

By: Kraig Doremus

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Mercer Bears played extra time for the fourth consecutive match on Friday, but after 92 minutes, Tony Economopoulos' Bears left The Citadel with a 2-1 victory thanks to Ally Fordham's goal from six yards out.

Mercer fell behind in the second half when Leanne Bryant scored to put the Bulldogs ahead, 1-0, in the 65^th minute, but from there, the tide turned in favor of the Orange & Black.

Fordham quickly placed a shot on goal off a corner kick only 44 seconds after Bryant's goal, and in the 71^st minute, Brie Pavol was nearly able to equalize. Pavol sent a rocket towards the net off a free kick from 23 yards away, but her try was saved by The Citadel's Brie Sikes. Undeterred, the Bears continued to fight for the match-tying goal before the end of regulation.

Fordham once again placed a shot on target in the 75^th minute that nearly tied the match. Kendall Cook, who was recently named February's Southern Conference Women's Soccer Player of the Month, attempted a free kick and sent the ball to Fordham two yards away by the left post. Fordham headed the ball, but Sikes was able to keep her composure and make the save, although Mercer continued to increase its pressure on the sophomore keeper.

Bryant tried to score her second goal of the match in the 77^th minute, but it was blocked by the Mercer back line, and the Bears would soon quiet the socially distanced home crowd. Payton Schurr's shot with 11:10 to go play in regulation forced Sikes to fall to her knees to corral the ball. Schurr's try from near the penalty spot came off a corner that was received by Kylie Buchanan in the left side of the box. Buchanan passed to Schurr who stood less than a yard away, and Schurr sent the ball towards the net as Sikes scrambled to make the stop.

Despite making the save, Sikes was not so fortunate later in the half. With 9:40 to play, Pace Stephenson sent the ball back to Buchanan on the sideline near midfield. A powerful kick by Buchanan found its way to Aliah Kitchens on the 18, and Kitchens made a pass towards the penalty spot where Fordham was headed as she was fouled. The Bears were awarded a penalty kick, which Cook attempted and promptly placed in the back of the net with 8:44 remaining in regulation.

Both teams missed a final shot in the second half, and after a five-minute break, the first overtime period began.

Extra time in Charleston lasted fewer than two minutes thanks to Cook, Schurr and Fordham. Cook, who appeared to be looking for the cross attempt from inside the box, found Schurr four yards away from the net. Schurr quickly gained possession and sent the ball to Fordham who stood on the right side of the penalty spot and wasted no time firing the ball off her right foot and into the lower left corner of the net for the win.

Fordham's goal was her team-leading seventh of the season. She moved into the lead for total points among all team members with 15. Cook's equalizer was her fifth score of the 2020-21 season and tied with her Kitchens for the second-most goals on the team. Both Cook and Schurr tallied their second assist of the year in the win. Jordyn Ebert made four saves in the win, including a diving stop in the opening half to keep The Citadel off the scoreboard. The Bears placed nine of their 14 shots on goal and held an 8-6 in corner kicks. The two teams combined for 25 fouls in a physical Southern Conference contest.

Coach Tony Economopoulos Quotable

ON THE MATCH
"I was proud of our team. This has become a huge rivalry and is a game that The Citadel marks on its calendar. Each time we play, The Citadel gives us its best shot. We fell behind when they [the Bulldogs] scored in the second half, but we responded to get a well-deserved penalty kick, which swung the momentum. We had the momentum to win it in regulation, but did not, however, with this being our fourth overtime match in a row, I felt good about our chances. We were fantastic in overtime, and Ally [Fordham] did a great job burying that goal to give us the win. I am proud of our team for getting the win and earning three points on the road against a good Citadel team."

NOTABLES

Mercer picked up its eighth overall win against The Citadel.
Fordham scored her team-best seventh goal in the win.
The El Cajon, Calif., native has scored netted the match-winner in back-to-back matches
Fordham has scored the winning goal in three matches with Cook doing the honors twice.
Cook scored the fifth goal of her freshman campaign and is third on the squad with 12 points.
Cook and Schurr both recorded their second assist of the year.
Ebert's 28^th win in a Mercer kit moved her into sole possession of fourth all-time in Mercer women's soccer history.
The Bears concluded their three-match road trip with a 2-1-0 record.

UP NEXT
The Bears will host UNCG for their Southern Conference home opener at 7 p.m. on March 19.

FOLLOW THE BEARS
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