Mercer Earns 1-1 Draw with UNCG in SoCon Opener

Saturday, March 13

Macon, Ga.

2 p.m.

Mercer University

2-6-1, 0-0-1

UNCG

4-1-1, 0-0-1

UNC Greensboro

Mercer

Photo by: Kayla Davis

Mercer Earns 1-1 Draw with UNCG in SoCon Opener

3/13/2021 10:55:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Dylan Gaither scored his fourth goal of the season in the 82nd minute

By: Stephen Waldman

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer men's soccer team opened Southern Conference play with a 1-1 draw against UNCG on Saturday afternoon at Betts Stadium.

The Bears struck first in a rematch of the 2019 conference final when Dylan Gaither scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season. Mercer out-shot the Spartans, 10-9, including a 5-3 margin in both the first and second halves. Angel Gonzalez led the team with two shots in the match, while Gaither, Andrew Anyafo, Kareve Richards and Ousman Jabang recorded Mercer's four shots on goal. The Bears also held a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks, including five in the final 45 minutes of regulation.

JR DeRose totaled four saves in the contest, including two stops in the second overtime period to secure at least a point.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer controlled play for the majority of the opening 20 minutes of the contest, taking five of the game's first eight shots during the opening 22 minutes. Trevor Martineau had a good scoring chance in the 22nd minute on a volley attempt but hit it over the crossbar. The two sides battled back-and-forth for the rest of the first half with neither side generating any more dangerous chances in the opening period.

The Bears were reinvigorated when they returned to the pitch for the second half and once again generated multiple dangerous scoring chances while racking up a high shot count. Mercer was able to penetrate the UNCG defense and send three quality crosses into the box that went right across the face of the goal, but the home team was unable to get on the end of one of those crosses to break the scoreless tie.

Martineau drew a foul at the top of the box in the final 10 minutes of match to set up the Bears up with their best chance of the game. Gaither took the ensuing free kick and sent his shot directly on target and off the inside of the post for the go-ahead goal. UNCG scored the equalizer in the final minute of the second half after sending all 11 Spartans on the field forward in a last-ditch effort.

UNCG managed to take three shots in overtime, including two on target, but DeRose was up to the task as the match ended in a draw.

NOTABLES

Mercer went to overtime for the first time this season.
Dylan Gaither scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season.
Three of Gaither's four goals have come in the last five games.
JR DeRose made at least four saves for the fifth time this season.
Angel Gonzalez earned his first collegiate start for the Bears, playing a career-high 62 minutes.

UP NEXT
The Bears continue conference play on Tuesday as they welcome ETSU to Middle Georgia for a 4 p.m. kickoff.

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.