Thomason's Hat Trick Lifts Mercer To 4-0 Win Over UNC Asheville

Sunday, August 25

Macon, Ga.

2 p.m.

Mercer University

4-0-0, 0-0-0

UNC Asheville

0-3-0, 0-0-0

UNC Asheville

Mercer

Thomason's Hat Trick Lifts Mercer To 4-0 Win Over UNC Asheville

8/25/2024 5:23:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Mercer has shutout each of its last three opponents

MACON, Ga. - Larkin Thomason scored her first collegiate hat trick to help the Mercer Bears to a 4-0 win over UNC Asheville on Sunday afternoon from Betts Stadium.

Anna Bachman was the other goal scorer for the Bears who were also strong defensively, shutting out their third consecutive opponent. Lena Dykes, Sara Engels and Jada Moorman all had one assist on the day for the Bears.

Thomason's first goal came in the ninth minute when Moorman passed it to Thomason in the box who took a touch to get space away from her defender in the box and took a shot that found its way into the bottom right of the goal.

The rest of the first half saw a few chances for both sides but the score remained 1-0 going into halftime. In the 52nd minute of the second half, a loose ball in UNC Asheville's box found the outstretched foot of Bachman who's shot took a slight deflection off a Bulldogs player and beat the goalie near post for her second career goal.

In the 63rd minute, Sara Engels took a corner kick for the Bears which found Lena Dykes in the box who one touched it back across goal to Thomason for a tap in goal from one foot away to put the Bears up, 3-0.

Thomason's hat trick quickly followed in the 67th minute when she had the ball at her feet with her back to goal - just outside the box - turned and curled a spectacular left-footed shot into the upper left corner of the goal to extend Mercer's lead to 4-0.

Mercer's defense did a good job defensively for the final 20 minutes of the game in not allowing many scoring chances for the Bulldogs. Lindsay Bell earned her third shutout of the season in goal.

SCORING SUMMARY
9'	MERCER GOAL: Larkin Thomason (2); ASSIST: Jada Moorman
52'	MERCER GOAL: Anna Bachman (2); ASSIST: None
63'	MERCER GOAL: Larkin Thomason (3); ASSIST: Lena Dykes, Sara Engels
67'	MERCER GOAL: Larkin Thomason (4); ASSIST: None

TOP BEARS

+ Larkin Thomason's first career hat trick provided most of the scoring for the Bears. Thomason was dangerous going forward as she
had a game high eight shots with six on goal.
+ Anna Bachman scored a big goal early in the second half to give the Bears some breathing room at 2-0.
+ Lena Dykes played well defensively for Mercer and had a great assist on Thomason's second goal of the game.
+ Mercer's midfielders had strong games in winning most of the 50/50 balls and doing a good job of switching fields.

NOTABLES

+ Thomason's hat trick was the first by a Bear since Kendall Cook's against South Carolina State on Sept. 9, 2022.
+ Mercer has shutout each of its last three opponents and has allowed just one goal on the year. Tied for the fewest goals
allowed in the SoCon with The Citadel.
+ Shots were 20-9 in favor of Mercer. Mercer has had at least 15 shots in all four games this season.
+ Mercer doubled up UNC Asheville in corner kicks, 12-6.

UP NEXT

The Bears will go on the road to play Georgia Southern on Thursday, August 29. Kickoff is at 5 p.m. ET.

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SUPPORT THE BEARS

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.