Bears Shutout FGCU on Sunday afternoon

Sunday, September 5

Fort Myers, Fla.

5:00 p.m.

Mercer University

2-2-0, 0-0-0

Florida Gulf Coast

0-2-1, 0-0-0

Mercer

FGCU

9/5/2021 7:38:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

First half surge powers Mercer past FGCU

By: Will Vaught

FT. MYERS, Fla. – In the final match of the two-game road set in Florida, the Mercer men's soccer team utilized a two-goal first half to take down host FGCU following an overtime heartbreaker in extra time to get back to .500.

Mercer (2-2) got on the board when Dylan Gaither, the reigning SoCon offensive player of the week, used his right foot to send a rocket from well outside the penalty area into the net following a pass from Natnael McDonald to take the 1-0 lead over the host Eagles (0-2-1), just 23 minutes into the match.

Gaither's strike was his fourth of the year, and the McDonald assist was his second of the campaign. The four goals on the season by Gaither paces the Bears' attack through four matches.

Just 12 minutes later, Chad Eldridge found Kadeem Agard right inside the six-yard box, right at the keeper's left to double the Bears' lead to two just 10 minutes prior to the intermission.

For the second time in as many matches, Agard found the back of the net and Eldridge assisted on a score.

Following the break, the Orange & Black never let up their attack, constantly pressuring the Eagles' backline in an effort to up the advantage.

Reigning SoCon Defensive player of the week, Brant Zulauf, stopped four shots throughout the 90 minutes of the contest. The redshirt sophomore keeper from Alpharetta, Georgia logged his second shutout this season, and first since the season-opener versus Gardner-Webb. Zulauf made key saves early and often to keep the shutout intact and hold onto the result.

For the second straight season, MU's first two victories came with clean sheets.

Next time out, the Bears will start another mini-homestand when they host Davidson on Sunday, September 12. Kickoff against the visiting Wildcats will be at 1:00 p.m. from Betts Stadium.