Pray's Goal Lifts Mercer To 1-0 Win Over ETSU

Sunday, October 1

Macon, Ga.

2 p.m.

Mercer University

7-2-5, 2-1-1

East Tennessee State

6-2-4, 2-1-1

ETSU

Mercer

Pray's Goal Lifts Mercer To 1-0 Win Over ETSU

10/1/2023 5:10:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

Keelin Pray scored her first goal of the season

MACON, Ga. - Keelin Pray scored a spectacular goal off her left foot in the 52nd minute to lift Mercer past ETSU 1-0 on Sunday afternoon at Betts Stadium.

It was Pray's first goal of the season and came from a Jada Moorman assist to put the Bear's up 1-0. The goal ended ETSU's streak of six consecutive shut outs spanning over 600 minutes of game action.

ETSU entered the game unbeaten in its last six (4-0-2) and in first place in the SoCon standings through three games of conference play.

The first half was a defensive battle as neither team got a shot off within the first 20 minutes of the game. The first half ended with Mercer outshooting the Bucs 3-2 with Lana Whitfield accounting for two of Mercer's shots.

After Pray's goal made it 1-0 in the 52nd minute, ETSU pushed hard to find the tying goal, hitting the crossbar in the 61st minute. Less than a minute later, ETSU midfielder Sinoxolo Cesane forced Mercer's Lindsay Bell to make a great leaping save to preserve the Bears' lead.

The second half was intense and physical, and the Bears did a good job of limiting ETSU's chances by having moments of possession and killing time off the clock for a 1-0 win.

After a successful three-game homestand, the Bears will head back on the road to face VMI, Thursday, October 5.

SCORING SUMMARY
52'	MERCER GOAL: Keelin Pray (1); ASSIST: Jada Moorman

TOP BEARS

+ Keelin Pray picked a great time to score her first goal of the season and was also great in the midfield for the Bears.
+ Lindsay Bell was excellent in goal for the Bears, picking up her fifth shut out of the season while making two saves.
+ Mercer's back line was solid all afternoon, not letting ETSU in behind and defending set pieces well.

NOTABLES

+ Mercer not only ended ETSU's shut out streak but also was just the third team this season to score a goal against the Bucs.
+ Mercer extended its streak of scoring at least one goal to 13 consecutive games.
+ Moorman's assist gives her a point in seven of her last eight games.
+ Mercer outshot ETSU 12-7, including a 7-2 edge in shots on goal. Mercer's seven shots on goal were the second most given up by the Bucs this season.

UP NEXT

After a successful three-game homestand, the Bears will head back on the road to face VMI, Thursday, October 5.

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