Bears Drop 2-1 Contest To Samford

Thursday, October 12

Macon, Ga.

7 p.m.

Mercer University

8-4-5, 3-3-1

Samford

9-3-4, 5-1-1

Samford

Mercer

10/12/2023 10:31:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

Sara Engels scored for the Bears

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer women's soccer team for the second consecutive game scored in the opening six minutes of the game, but came up a goal short in a 2-1 defeat to the Samford Bulldogs Thursday night at Betts Stadium

In the final home regular season game for the Bears, junior midfielder Sara Engels was left alone on the back post and scored off a cross from Chandler Lewis-Jenkins, which was flicked off the head of Jada Moorman to the left-foot of Engels who roofed the shot into the goal for her second goal of the season, putting Mercer up 1-0 six minutes in.

Samford would respond eight minutes later in the 14th minute with a goal from Whitaker Buchanan. The Bulldogs would take a 2-1 lead with a goal in the 24th minute from Kaitlin Maynard. Samford would take a 2-1 lead into halftime.

The Bears came out strong to start the second half, with quality scoring chances for Thomason, Whitely, and Cook in the opening 15 minutes of the second half, but Samford's goalie Zoe Clevely was sound all night, making three saves and turning the Bears away to preserve Samford's 2-1 lead.

The Bears had a couple of good chances in the final 10 minutes, with freshman Maria Karipidis' having her shot saved and Kendall Cook's free kick was also saved by the Bulldogs' goalie.

The Bears close out the regular season with two games on the road. Up first is Furman this Sunday, October 15 at 2 p.m.

SCORING SUMMARY
6'	MERCER GOAL: Sara Engels (2); ASSISTS: Jada Moorman, Chandler Lewis-Jenkins
14'	SAMFORD GOAL: Whitaker Buchanan (3); ASSIST: Layla Brown
23'	SAMFORD GOAL: Kaitlin Maynard (1); ASSIST: None

TOP BEARS

+ Sara Engels scored her second goal of the season in the sixth minute jump starting the game for the Bears.
+ Freshman Maria Karipidis earned the Grit Chain as she was excellent in the midfield for the Bears with several important tackles and one of the best shots on goal for the Bears in the second half.
+ Elizabeth Hargis was stout defensively for the Bears, coming up with key defensive plays and winning back possession on numerous occasions.
+ Although she was held without point, Larkin Thomason did a great job up top, keeping possession and led Mercer with four shots on the night.

NOTABLES

+ Mercer outshot Samford 10-6 in the second half.
+ Mercer was just the third SoCon team and fifth team this season to score against Samford through its 16 games this season.
+ Mercer's 11 shots and five corner kicks were the most by a conference opponent against Samford this season.

UP NEXT

The Bears close out the regular season with two games on the road. Up first is Furman this Sunday, October 15 at 2 p.m.

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