Bears Suffer First Loss of Season to No. 7 Alabama

Sunday, September 17

Macon, Ga.

2 p.m.

Mercer University

5-1-4, 0-0-0

#7 Alabama

6-0-4, 0-0-1

Alabama

Mercer

Bears Suffer First Loss of Season to No. 7 Alabama

9/17/2023 5:15:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Lana Whitfield scored the lone goal for the Bears

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer women's soccer team suffered its first loss of the season to No. 7 Alabama Sunday afternoon from Betts Stadium.

The Bears and Crimson Tide each entered the match as one of 25 remaining undefeated teams in the country. Alabama's win ends Mercer's streak of 17 consecutive regular season games without a loss.

The Crimson Tide got on the board first in the 11th minute as their leading goal scorer Gianna Paul scored from outside the box for her seventh goal of the season. Alabama would add another one four minutes later.

Mercer struck back in the 34th minute with a goal from Lana Whitfield - her fourth of the season - on an assist from Larkin Thomason who found Whitfield on the back post for the goal. It was just the fifth goal allowed this season by Alabama.

Alabama added goals in the 38th and 45th minute to lead 5-1 going into halftime and it would end up staying that way in the second half.

The Bears will head into conference play with a 5-1-4 record and will travel to Chattanooga for a Thursday night game.

SCORING SUMMARY
11'	ALABAMA GOAL: Gianna Paul (7); ASSIST: None
15'	ALABAMA GOAL: Felicia Knox (2); ASSIST: Gianna Paul
34'	MERCER GOAL: Lana Whitfield (4); ASSIST: Larkin Thomason
38'	ALABAMA GOAL: Cameron Silva (1); ASSIST: Leah Kunde
45'	ALABAMA GOAL: Nadia Ramadan (1); ASSIST: None

TOP BEARS

+ Lana Whitfield scored her fourth goal of the season on a pass from Larkin Thomason to bring the Bears within 3-1.
+ Kendall Cook earned the Grit Chain for her efforts in the midfield. Cook played 77 minutes.
+ Lena Dykes was the only field player to play 90 minutes for the Bears and had several important tackles and defensive plays throughout the game.

NOTABLES

+ Corners were hard to come by as each team had just one corner kick in the game.
+ After a 0-0 tie against Evansville to start the season, Mercer has scored in every game since (9 games).
+ Mercer became just the fifth team this season to score against Alabama and only the second unranked team to do so.

UP NEXT

The Bears will head into conference play with a 5-1-4 record and will travel to Chattanooga for a Thursday night game.

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Fans can help support the Mercer athletics department by making a gift to the Mercer Athletic Foundation. To find out more information about the Mercer Athletic Foundation, visit S upportMAF.com or email maf@mercer.edu.