Bears Claim 3-1 Win Over Wofford on Senior Day

Saturday, March 27

Macon, Ga.

2 p.m.

Mercer University

4-8-1, 2-2-1

Wofford

0-6-0, 0-3-0

Wofford

Mercer

Photo by: Stephen Waldman

Bears Claim 3-1 Win Over Wofford on Senior Day

3/27/2021 6:43:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Mercer recognized seniors Jake Rehak, JR DeRose, Kareve Richards and Leo Toledo Jr. prior to today’s match

By: Stephen Waldman

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer men's soccer team got back in the win column by claiming a 3-1 victory on senior day over Wofford on Saturday afternoon at Betts Stadium.

Prior to the match, Mercer recognized its four seniors: Jake Rehak, Kareve Richards, Leo Toledo Jr. and JR DeRose.

A trio of Bears found the back of the net this afternoon as Ousman Jabang, Nick Wanzer and Dylan Gaither scored a goal in the win. Ricardo Packer Jr. and Toledo Jr. also recorded a point with an assist. Additionally, DeRose made two saves in his 29th career victory.

Mercer was the more active team in the attacking third as it held a 12-8 advantage in shots and an 8-3 edge in shots on goal.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After the two teams battled back-and-forth throughout the majority of the first half, it was Jabang who buried the first goal of the game for Mercer. In the 33rd minute, Toledo Jr. sent a corner kick into the box where Packer Jr. forced Wofford's keeper Grant Wollam to make the save. Wollam was unable to hang onto the ball, however, and the rebound found the foot of Jabang who handed the Bears a 1-0 lead.

The Bears added to their lead in the second half as the ball bounced around the box before settling enough for Wanzer to put a shot past the Terriers in the 51st minute to give the home side some breathing room. Mercer wasted little time in picking up its third goal as less than nine minutes passed before Gaither navigated his way through a sea of white jerseys and slotted a shot inside the right post past a diving Wollam in the 60th minute.

Wofford's Charlie Harris scored in the 72nd minute to cut the visitor's deficit down to two goals, but the Bears were able to tighten the leash on the Terriers and prevented them from any more scoring chances.

NOTABLES

Mercer honored seniors Jake Rehak, Kareve Richards, Leo Toledo Jr. and JR DeRose prior to the game.
The Bears scored three goals in a game for the third time this season.
Toledo Jr. became the fourth player in program history to record 20 career assists.
Dylan Gaither netted his team-leading fifth goal of the season.
Gaither recorded his 10th career goal.
Ousman Jabang scored his first goal of the season and third of his career.
Nick Wanzer tallied his first collegiate goal.
DeRose played in the 50th game of his career as a member of the Bears.
Richards started for the 72nd time in Mercer's 74 games since the start of the 2017 season.
Rehak appeared in his first collegiate match.

UP NEXT
The Bears close out their regular season slate with a pivotal matchup at Belmont on April 3. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m.

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.