Taming the Lady Tigers

Sunday, September 19

Macon, Ga.

1:00 PM

Mercer University

3-3-1, 0-0-0

Jackson State

1-8-0, 0-0-0

Jackson St.

Mercer

9/19/2021 3:16:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Women's Soccer dispatches Jackson State in final non-conference tilt

MACON, Ga. - In the final non-conference match of the season, the Mercer Bears put away the visiting Jackson State Lady Tigers by a 2-1 margin on Sunday afternoon. Goals at the 17th and 72nd minutes were the difference for the Bears (3-3-1) from 25 shots from the MU attack.

"I was happy we had a lot of shots," exclaimed head coach Tony Economopolus after the result. "We had some hit the frame, the posts ... we had three or four of those that unfortunately bounced out. I wish the finishing was better. I thought we played good today, not great." On the start of conference play, "we are starting to create a lot of opportunities ... we just need to be polished in the chances that we are creating."

After countless shots on JSU's Tionna Taylor, Mercer struck first off of a corner when Cami Brown delivered a ball to Ally Fordham, who headed it into the lower-left portion of the goal. That score was the third of the year for the graduate forward from California. Fordham led the Bears' attack with six shots and four of those being on target.

72' » @AliahKitchens from WAAAY OUTSIDE! MU 2 - 0 JSU#RoarTogether pic.twitter.com/q16lKC5D6H — Mercer Women's Soccer (@MercerWSoccer) September 19, 2021

Nearly an hour later, the Bears doubled their lead to two when Elizabeth Hargis fed the ball to Aliah Kitchens, who sent a rocket from just outside the 18-yard box to the upper-right corner of the net, leaving Taylor almost no chance to make any sort of contact with it. The strike from Kitchens was her second of the year, and the first since the 10-0 drubbing of Mississippi Valley State nearly three weeks ago.

Following a miscue by MU keeper, Jordyn Ebert, Jackson State's Sydni Wilson converted a penalty kick in the 83rd minute, but 2-1 was the closest the Lady Tigers (1-8) would make it.

The Bears' defense stifled the Lady Tiger attack, allowing four total shots - and the aforementioned PK was the only one that was on target. In contrast, the MU attack overwhelmed the Jackson State backline, shooting 10 on target. Mercer had seven on the afternoon, which tied the season-high, which was set in the season opener against Georgia State and the contest with Georgia Southern.

For the first time this season, Mercer did not concede a corner kick to their opposition. Prior to this contest, the fewest they allowed was one to fellow Mississippi school, Mississippi Valley State.

Next time out, the Bears will open SoCon play with Western Carolina on the road on September 24. Kickoff from Cullowhee, North Carolina is slated for 7 p.m. Following the clash with the Catamounts, MU will continue on their road swing with a tilt with ETSU on September 26.