Mercer Suffers 1-0 Setback at North Florida

Sunday, August 29

Jacksonville, Fla.

6:00 PM

Mercer University

1-2-0, 0-0-0

North Florida

3-1-0, 0-0-0

Mercer

North Florida

Photo by: Kurt Ebert

8/29/2021 8:26:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Lana Whitfield took four shots for the Bears and placed a pair on target.

By: Kraig Doremus

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Mercer Bears could not find the back of the net on Sunday evening, and North Florida used a late second half goal to hand the Bears a 1-0 loss.

"We knew coming in that playing the defending ASUN champions on their home pitch would be tough," said head coach Tony Economopoulos. "We challenged the team to not come out flat, and I thought they played like they are capable of and had a high work rate. Defensively, we played well, but the only downside is we conceded a goal off a set piece. All three goals we've surrendered this season have come off set pieces or restarts, so we'll go back to the drawing board to see how we can correct that. We're getting there and making positive strides, so these learning experiences will help us as we move forward and when conference play begins."

Jordyn Ebert was challenged throughout the first half, but remained calm and collected as she has throughout her time in goal at Mercer. In the 10^th minute, the ball found the foot of Thias Reiss who curled around the Mercer defense and sent a weak attempt directly to Ebert from the center of the 18. Five minutes later, Ebert made another save, this time in front of the post when Ariana Munoz fired a shot on target.

In the 18^th minute, the Bears' Aliah Kitchens placed a shot on goal, but the Osprey's Mercedes Sapp made the save. 25 seconds later, Lana Whitfield sent the ball towards the net, her first of four tries in the loss, but it was off target.

The Bears avoided surrendering a goal in the 24^th minute thanks to stellar play from the backline. The Osprey's nearly scored off a corner, but Pace Stephenson was behind Ebert at the left post and cleared the ball off the back line. North Florida took four additional shots in the first half, including one of the woodwork, but Mercer kept the match scoreless through 45 minutes.

Following the intermission, Kitchens attempted to take matters into her own hands and put the Bears on the board in the 46^th minute. She dribbled into the box and tried to split two defenders as she fired a shot towards the goal, but Sapp made the save.

Eight minutes later, Whitfield narrowly missed her first collegiate goal. Her try was headed for the center of the net and forced Sapp to leap into the air and narrowly get a finger on the ball, as she deflected it over the crossbar. Two minutes before the hour-mark passed in Jacksonville, Kitchens was fouled one yard from the right edge of the 18. Jordan Lynn attempted the free kick and curled the ball into the left side of the box, but she was unable to find a teammate.

With 20 minutes remaining, Ebert once again kept UNF scoreless, diving by the right post to make the save. In the 79^th minute, the Ospreys' Reiss headed the ball into the upper 90 off a corner and forced the Orange & Black to play from behind late in the match.

Down a goal, Mercer ramped up the physicality as it searched for the equalizer. Nicole Icen's shot on target 5:49 prior to the final whistle was the Bears' last attempt of the night. Unable to equalize, the Orange & Black suffered a 1-0 loss.

NOTABLES

Whitfield and Avery Hallam earned the starting nod for the first time in their careers,
Whitfield generated four chances, the most of any Bear, and placed two shots on goal.
Kitchens placed a pair of shots on goal, and Icen's lone attempt was also on target.
Only two of Mercer's shots were not on goal in the loss.
Ebert made a season-high five saves.

UP NEXT
Mercer will return home and host Mississippi Valley State on Sept. 3 at 7 p.m.

FOLLOW THE BEARS
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