Road Tests Await Bears as SoCon Play Begins

Friday, March 5

Greenville, S.C.

6:00 PM

Mercer University

Furman

Photo by: Mitch Robinson

3/4/2021 9:02:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Mercer will travel to Furman and Wofford this weekend.

By: Kraig Doremus & Michael Ille

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer women's soccer team begins its 2021 conference season this weekend with matches against Furman and Wofford. The Bears will open SoCon play on Friday at Furman before traveling to Wofford on Sunday.

FURMAN MATCH INFO
Date: Friday, March 5, 2021 | 6:00 p.m.
Teams: Mercer Bears at Furman Paladins
Location: Greenville, S.C. | Stone Stadium
Live Stats: bit.ly/3sMpVgt
Live Video: es.pn/384Rtpe
Twitter Updates: @MercerWSoccer

SERIES HISTORY | LAST MEETING
Furman holds a 5-3-1 lead over the Bears. Mercer picked up a 2-0 victory over the Paladins in the fall of 2019 to remain undefeated inside Betts Stadium. Ciara Whitely scored 82 seconds into the match, and Abigail Zoeller added a goal off a penalty kick in the 75^th minute. The Bears took six shots in the match, while Furman had 13, but Jordyn Ebert was perfect in goal with six stops and a shutout.

SCOUTING THE BEARS
The Bears enter league play with high hopes for a successful campaign. Mercer is led by Aliah Kitchens' five goals, three assists and 13 points. Kendall Cook has contributed four goals and one assist in her freshman season with senior Ally Fordham also scoring four times and adding an assist. In goal, senior Jordyn Ebert has made 40 saves and has two shutouts on the season. The Bears are 15^th in the nation in goals scored with 22.

SCOUTING THE PALADINS
Furman has not yet played an official match this season. Returning players include forward Kyndal Anderson, midfielder Isabella Gutierrez and junior Erin Houlihan. Anderson had 16 points in the 2019 season off seven goals and two assists. Gutierrez tallied both six goals and assists last season for a team-high of 18 points. Houlihan scored seven times in her sophomore season. Furman finished 2019 14-6-1 overall and 7-1-1 in SoCon play. The Paladins advanced to the league championship where they fell to Samford. Furman has played exhibitions against North Greenville and Clemson this spring but had the season opener against North Greenville canceled.

WOFFORD MATCH INFO
Date: Sunday, March 7, 2021 | 5:00 p.m.
Teams: Mercer Bears at Wofford Terriers
Location: Spartanburg, S.C. | Snyder Field
Live Stats: bit.ly/308TBbl
Live Video: es.pn/3baK1Ls
Twitter Updates: @MercerWSoccer

SERIES HISTORY | LAST MEETING
Mercer has a 6-1 all-time record against the Wofford Terriers. The Orange & Black defeated the Black & Gold last season, 2-0. Both of the Bears' goals came in the second half and were less than six minutes apart. It took the Bears 50:53 to get on the board as Whitey scored off a pass from Nicole Icen to get Mercer on the board. Zoeller scored at the 56:27 mark giving the Bears insurance. Ebert made two saves in goal to keep the Terriers scoreless.

SCOUTING THE TERRIERS
Wofford did not play in the fall and will open the 2020-21 campaign on Friday when it hosts The Citadel. Players to keep an eye on include junior forward Katie Gilligan and junior goalkeeper Maria Mon. Gilligan scored seven goals and provided one assist in the 2019 season. Mon made 100 saves and had three shutouts as a sophomore. The Terriers went 7-12 overall in 2019 and won three SoCon matches. Wofford defeated VMI in the first round of the league tournament before falling to Furman in the quarterfinals.

NOTABLES

The Bears are a combined 9-6-2 against the two schools.
Mercer defeated both schools by 2-0 scores last season to remain undefeated at Betts Stadium. The win over Furman was Mercer's regular season finale.
Mercer has had three players – Kitchens, Cook and Fordham – score at least four goals.
Both Ebert and Payton Jamieson have seen time in goal this season.

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