Fordham Provides Spark in Overtime Win Over Wofford

Sunday, March 7

Spartanburg, S.C.

5:00 PM

Mercer University

4-7-1, 1-2-1

Wofford

1-1-0, 1-1-0

Mercer

Wofford

Photo by: Milledge Austin

Fordham Provides Spark in Overtime Win Over Wofford

3/8/2021 12:32:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Ally Fordham scored both goals in Mercer’s 2-1 triumph.

By: Kraig Doremus

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Ally Fordham netted both the equalizer and game-winner to help Mercer secure a 2-1 win over Wofford on Sunday for its first SoCon win of the season.

Wofford challenged Jordyn Ebert twice in the opening 10 minutes, but the senior goalkeeper came up big with a pair of stops before Mercer attempted a shot on goal. Sarah Adcock placed the first shot on target for the Bears in the 16^th minute, but Maria Mon made the save.

Mercer did not threaten again until the late in the opening half. After a foul in the box with less than seven minutes remaining until the intermission, Brie Pavol earned a penalty kick. Wofford's Mon guessed the direction of Pavol's PK correctly and blocked the attempt, but Fordham quickly followed the rebound with a shot attempt. Fordham's try was saved, and Wofford narrowly escaped the first half without surrendering a goal.

The Terriers' LeAnna Guion gave the home team a 1-0 lead, but it lasted only 58 seconds as Kylie Buchanan served the ball to Fordham with Fordham sending it back to Buchanan who proceeded to cross it over. Fordham received the cross and sent it inside the post for the equalizer.

With the match tied, Ebert made three saves over the remainder of the second half to send the match to overtime. Less than 48 hours after a heartbreaking overtime defeat, the Bears ended Sunday's match on the correct end of the score. Fordham took the only attempted of extra time, lobbing the shot over the head of Mon into the center of the net for the win.

Mercer held a 13-11 advantage in shots and placed seven shots on target compared to six for Wofford. The Orange & Black more than doubled the Black & Gold in corner kicks, 8-3. En route to her impressive night, Fordham paced the Bears with five shots, placing three on target with a pair of shots finding the back of the night in Mercer's first Southern Conference win of the 2020-21 campaign. Pavol and Adcock each attempted two shots. Ebert played the full 96:07 in goal and made five stops while allowing a mere one goal.

Coach Tony Economopoulos Quotable

"To start off, I have to say how good the Southern Conference is. Every match is competitive and every team is battling to finish in the top-four of league [to advance to the SoCon tournament]. It was a great back-and-forth game tonight. I was proud of our team for fighting so hard tonight in our third overtime game in a row. The whole team contributed and was involved tonight. We'll enjoy the win tonight, and get back to work on Tuesday to prepare for a good Citadel team."

NOTABLES

The match was Mercer's third consecutive OT season.
The Bears have played five overtime matches this season.
Mercer evened its conference record at 1-1.
Fordham scored two goals – her fith and sixth of the season.
Fordham's six goals pace the team. She is second on the team in points with 13.
Ebert secured her 27^th win in a Mercer uniform to tie Amy Rudge for fourth all-time.
Mercer will play its third straight match in the Palmetto State next Friday when it visits The Citadel.

UP NEXT
Mercer will travel to The Citadel on March 12 for a 3 p.m. match.

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