Bears Earn Tie In Season Opener

Thursday, August 18

Buies Creek, NC

7 p.m.

Mercer University

0-0-1, 0-0-0

Campbell

0-0-1, 0-0-0

Mercer

Campbell

Photo by: Bennett Scarborough

8/18/2022 9:33:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Dominate second half and tie Campbell

Buies Creek, N.C.—A late first half goal by Lana Whitfield and a strong goalkeeping performance by Lindsay Bell helped the Mercer Bears women's soccer team earn a 1-1 tie against the defending Big South regular season champion Campbell Fighting Camels. It was the season opener for both teams.

"Very proud of the team tonight," Bears head coach Tony Economopoulos said. "We're on the road tonight versus a Big South two-time champion, great effort tonight by our team. We found ourselves in a hole early, and our team buckled down. Phenomenal job."

Bell, a redshirt sophomore, playing her first game in more than a year, didn't miss a beat making six saves, and was especially sharp in the first half while the Bears were finding their legs.

The Fighting Camels held an early edge in play until the Bears settled into the game. Bell kept the game scoreless with several solid saves in the first 25 minutes. It wasn't until, Campbell's Elyssa Nowowieski crossed the ball from the left side, and Jackie Richards headed it in for a 1-0 lead in the 28^th minute.

Mercer tied the game with less than a minute to play in the first half. Whitfield tallied the Bears' first goal of the season capping a beautiful passing play. Kendall Cook took advantage of a sagging Campbell defense on a corner kick. Cook craftily, took the opening to deliver a short pass to Kylie Buchanan. She carried the ball to about five yards outside upper right corner of the penalty area and delivered a perfect pass to Whitfield who struck for the equalizer.

Not only did Cook start the Bears' scoring play, she led the team with four shots. Nicole Icen and Mackenzie Gassie each had three shots.
Next up for the Bears is their home opener against Charleston Southern on Sunday Aug. 21 at 1 p.m. at Betts Stadium. Charleston Southern won its opening game in convincing fashion on Thursday, beating Brewton-Parker 9-0.

Bet you're wondering what coach Tony thinks of tonight's game, huh? pic.twitter.com/2yH3pBWHtp
— Mercer Women's Soccer (@MercerWSoccer) August 19, 2022

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