Wednesday, August 11
Macon, Ga.
6:00 PM
Mercer University
3
vs
0
Jacksonville
Photo by: Mark Powell
Bears Top Dolphins in Exhibition Play
8/11/2021 9:25:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Three different players scored for Mercer.
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer Bears started the 2021 campaign on a high note, topping the Jacksonville Dolphins, 3-0, in exhibition play on Wednesday night.
The Bears got off to a quick start, scoring in the fourth minute when Aliah Kitchens played a ball to Nicole Icen who found Pace Stephenson inside the box. Stephenson promptly sent the ball past Jacksonville's Courtney Green to give the Bears a 1-0 lead.
The Orange & Black continued to pile shots on goal, but the Dolphins' crew of keepers remained steady in the net to keep the score 1-0. The Bears extended their lead to 2-0 in the 37th minute via a penalty kick from Ally Fordham. Fordham's penalty kick was quickly followed by Kendall Cook's goal. Cook picked up where she left off in the spring, making a move around a defender before sending the ball into the upper 90. The Alpharetta, Ga., native begins her second season in Macon in 2021.
Mercer kept momentum on its side after the first 45 minutes when Keelin Pray placed a shot on target in her first collegiate. After Pray's shot, the Bears' offense went quiet before a lightning delay halted play for more than 30 minutes. When play match resumed, Mercer put a trio of shots on target in less than 90 seconds. Pray and fellow freshman Lana Whitfield nearly connected, as did Stephenson, but the Dolphins stopped Mercer from adding a fourth goal.
Mercer's backline kept the Jacksonville offense quiet, limiting the Dolphins to just seven shots with only one being on target. Both Jordyn Ebert and Lindsay Bell spent time in goal for the Bears with Ebert making the lone save of the evening. Mercer attempted 33 shots and placed 16 on target. Cook and Buchanan led the Bears with five shots each.
"It's always good to play a friendly prior to the regular season and see where our team is at," said head coach Tony Economopoulos. "We got off to a quick start and did some things well, but Jacksonville exposed things we need to work on as well. We have some training sessions before hosting Auburn [in exhibition play] and traveling to Georgia State [on Aug. 19] to start the regular season. There were some positives tonight, but most importantly we had a chance to play everyone who was healthy."
The Bears will continue exhibition play on Saturday at 6 p.m. when the Auburn Tigers come to Macon. Mercer is scheduled to open the regular season on the road against Georgia State at 7 p.m. on August 19.
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
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The Bears got off to a quick start, scoring in the fourth minute when Aliah Kitchens played a ball to Nicole Icen who found Pace Stephenson inside the box. Stephenson promptly sent the ball past Jacksonville's Courtney Green to give the Bears a 1-0 lead.
The Orange & Black continued to pile shots on goal, but the Dolphins' crew of keepers remained steady in the net to keep the score 1-0. The Bears extended their lead to 2-0 in the 37th minute via a penalty kick from Ally Fordham. Fordham's penalty kick was quickly followed by Kendall Cook's goal. Cook picked up where she left off in the spring, making a move around a defender before sending the ball into the upper 90. The Alpharetta, Ga., native begins her second season in Macon in 2021.
Mercer kept momentum on its side after the first 45 minutes when Keelin Pray placed a shot on target in her first collegiate. After Pray's shot, the Bears' offense went quiet before a lightning delay halted play for more than 30 minutes. When play match resumed, Mercer put a trio of shots on target in less than 90 seconds. Pray and fellow freshman Lana Whitfield nearly connected, as did Stephenson, but the Dolphins stopped Mercer from adding a fourth goal.
Mercer's backline kept the Jacksonville offense quiet, limiting the Dolphins to just seven shots with only one being on target. Both Jordyn Ebert and Lindsay Bell spent time in goal for the Bears with Ebert making the lone save of the evening. Mercer attempted 33 shots and placed 16 on target. Cook and Buchanan led the Bears with five shots each.
"It's always good to play a friendly prior to the regular season and see where our team is at," said head coach Tony Economopoulos. "We got off to a quick start and did some things well, but Jacksonville exposed things we need to work on as well. We have some training sessions before hosting Auburn [in exhibition play] and traveling to Georgia State [on Aug. 19] to start the regular season. There were some positives tonight, but most importantly we had a chance to play everyone who was healthy."
The Bears will continue exhibition play on Saturday at 6 p.m. when the Auburn Tigers come to Macon. Mercer is scheduled to open the regular season on the road against Georgia State at 7 p.m. on August 19.
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
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Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Soccer
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/ Women's Soccer
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/ Women's Soccer
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/ Women's Soccer
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/ Women's Soccer
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