Bears Drop Tuesday Afternoon SoCon Contest to ETSU

Tuesday, March 16

Macon, Ga.

12 p.m.

Mercer University

2-7-1, 0-1-1

ETSU

1-4-1, 1-1-0

ETSU

Mercer

Photo by: Mitch Robinson

Bears Drop Tuesday Afternoon SoCon Contest to ETSU

3/16/2021 3:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Mercer returns to action on Saturday at VMI.

By: Kraig Doremus

MACON, Ga. – Despite controlling the possession for over 60 percent of the match, the Mercer Bears dropped a hard-fought midweek battle to the ETSU Bucs, 1-0, on Tuesday afternoon.

The Orange & Black more than doubled the Bucs in shots, taking 19, compared to eight for ETSU. The Bears placed nine attempts on target and limited the visitors from Johnson City to only two shots on goal. Mercer tripled ETSU, 9-3, in first half shots, and held a 10-5 advantage in the final half. Each team attempted three corners over the first 45 minutes, but a 5-2 advantage in the second frame gave the Bears an 8-5 lead for the match.

The Mercer backline protected JR DeRose who made one stop in 90 minutes. The Bucs' Josh Perryman made eight saves.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer began the game on the offensive, taking six shots and three corners in the first 15 minutes. Bryant Jackson and Dylan Gaither both put looks on target but came up empty. After reaching the 15-minute mark, the Bears' attack went quiet until Jason Nduese-udom placed a shot on goal in the 32^nd minute and Ousman Jabang did so 11 minutes later. All three of ETSU's attempts in the first period were off target, and the teams went into the half scoreless.

ETSU began the final frame with two corner kicks and a shot in the 51^st minute before the Bears regained control. Andrew Anyafo nearly put Mercer ahead with slightly more than 35 minutes remaining. The Bucs' Perryman was forced to deflect a cross with his left hand, but doing so redirected the ball to Anyafo, who nearly snuck the ball inside the post. Anyafo's try landed inches wide of the net, but it was not the final time Mercer threatened.

With 20 minutes remaining, the Bears placed three shots on target, which were saved, and it was not until the 87^th minute that Trevor Martineau almost put Mercer ahead. Kareve Richards crossed the ball to Leo Toledo Jr., who found Martineau who flicked the ball off the back of his right foot, but Perryman dove and cradled the ball to make the save.

ETSU's Lucas Lightner broke the tie late in the contest, scoring with help from Tarik Pannholzer with 2:28 remaining. After the ball found Pannholzer in the box, he wasted no time in passing to Lightner, who snuck the ball past DeRose for his first career goal. The Bears were unable to equalize and dropped the afternoon match, 1-0.

NOTABLES

Kevin Kim tied his highest total of the 2020-21 campaign with four shots.
The Bears took at least 15 shots for the third time this season. Mercer's 19 attempts are second only to its 23 shots against Georgia Southern in September.
Mercer placed a season-high nine shots on target.
The Bears have outshot their opponent in six-of-ten matches.
The Orange & Black attempted more corners than its opponent for the seventh time in 10 matches.

UP NEXT
Mercer will hit the road on Saturday to take on VMI at 2 p.m. EDT.

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.