Mercer And Furman Battle To 1-1 Draw In SoCon Opener

Thursday, September 19

Macon, Ga.

7 p.m.

Mercer University

6-2-2, 0-0-1

Furman

4-4-2, 0-0-1

Furman

Mercer

Mercer And Furman Battle To 1-1 Draw In SoCon Opener

9/19/2024 9:57:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Freshman Hayden Lepley scored the game-tying goal for the Bears

MACON, Ga. – Freshman Hayden Lepley's goal in the 71st minute helped the Bears earn a point in a tightly contested game between Mercer and Furman in the SoCon opener, as the game ended in a 1-1 tie after 90 minutes from Betts Stadium, Thursday night.

Each team had its fair share of chances as shots were 19-18 in favor of Mercer with each team recording seven shots on goal. Larkin Thomason once again led all players in shots with nine. Lindsay Bell made six saves in goal for the Bears.

Furman capitalized on one of its best scoring chances in the game in the 14th minute as Nieva Gaither found the back of the net from outside of the top of the box to put the Paladins in front, 1-0. Sara Engels had two of Mercer's better chances in the first half but was unable to find a goal.

Jada Moorman had a good scoring chance in the 61st minute when she curled a shot that went just over the crossbar and onto the roof of the net.

In the 70th minute, Chandler Lewis-Jenkins took a free kick from well outside the box in which Lepley ran under and volleyed into the back of the net on her first touch to tie the game at one. It was Lepley's first career goal.

Less than one minute later, Thomason nearly gave the Bears the lead as she had a header glance off the crossbar. The two teams pushed to find a game-winning goal in the final minutes, but had to settle for a point a piece.

SCORING SUMMARY
14'	FURMAN GOAL: Nieva Gaither (1) ASSIST: None
70'	MERCER GOAL: Hayden Lepley (1) ASSIST: Chandler Lewis-Jenkins

TOP BEARS

+ Hayden Lepley stepped up and scored her first career goal in a big moment in the SoCon opener to help Mercer earn the draw.
+ Chandler Lewis-Jenkins played well defensively for Mercer and had a great ball into the box on Lepley's goal.
+ Lena Dykes won some key challenges for the Bears defensively in some 1v1 situations.

NOTABLES

+ Mercer has scored in all 10 games this season.
+ Mercer's 19 shots in the game were its most in its last seven games.
+ Lewis-Jenkins' assist was her third of the season; tied for second most on the team.
+ Larkin Thomason was held without a goal for the first time in eight games.

UP NEXT

Mercer will head on the road to play defending SoCon champion Western Carolina in Cullowhee, North Carolina on Sunday at 2 p.m.

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