Bears Drop 1-0 Decision To ETSU

Saturday, October 19

Macon, Ga.

7 p.m.

Mercer University

5-3-6, 1-1-1

East Tennessee State

5-5-3, 3-0-0

ETSU

Mercer

Photo by: Taylor Erickson

10/19/2024 9:21:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Donovan Schultz, donovan.schultz@live.mercer.edu

MACON – Mercer dominated possession for much of the match, but fell 1-0 to East Tennessee State at Betts Stadium on Saturday night.

The Bears were the aggressors early in the match, putting pressure on the ETSU back line from the start. The Bears put up four shots in the first 12 minutes, including a shot on goal by Fernando Arteaga in the third minute.

However, it was the Buccaneers who struck first, as Louie Salkeld scored in the 15^th minute to put ETSU in front. Mercer would put up four more shots in the first period, but it remained a 1-0 score heading into halftime.

Much like the first half, Mercer controlled possession throughout the second period. The Bears took 12 shots in the second half, but the Bucs defense held strong.

In the 65^th minute, Mercer's Fernando Arteaga delivered a great ball into the box for a scoring chance, but a header from Nick Wanzer went wide. The Bears almost broke through again in the 87^th minute when Carlos Santamaria collected a loose ball at the top of the box and ripped a shot to the bottom right corner of the goal. However, ETSU keeper Marc Kouadio made a diving save to keep the Bears off the board.

For the match, Mercer held a 20-9 edge in shots and a 9-2 advantage in shots on goal. The Bears had seven corner kicks to the Bucs' three.

The Bears move to 5-3-6 on the season and 1-1-1 in SoCon play with the loss.

SCORING SUMMARY

15' ETSU GOAL; Louie Salkeld ASSIST: None

TOP BEARS

+ Segun Afolabi had a game-high five shots and three shots on goal
+Kadeem Agard put both of his shots of the night on goal
+ Sekou Agard, Natnael McDonald, Carlos Santamaria, Nick Wanzer, Kadeem Agard, Woodi Pondeca, Fernando Arteaga and Grant Hampton played all 90 minutes in the field

UP NEXT
Mercer returns to Betts Stadium next Saturday for a conference matchup with Wofford and the second annual Baba Agbaje Memorial Game. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.