Bears Dominate In Home Opening Win Over Memphis

Thursday, September 5

Macon, Ga.

7 p.m.

Mercer University

2-1-2, 0-0-0

Memphis

1-4-0, 0-0-0

Memphis

Mercer

Bears Dominate In Home Opening Win Over Memphis

9/5/2024 9:52:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

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

MACON – Senior midfielder Carlos Santamaria had a huge night, scoring a goal and adding an assist, while Sekou Agard scored his third goal of the season to power Mercer to a 2-0 home-opening victory over Memphis on Thursday.

Goalkeeper Trevor McMullen and the Bears' defense recorded their fourth straight shutout in the win.

The Bears got the scoring started early, as Santamaria took advantage of a loose ball in front of the net to bury his first goal of the season in the sixth minute. The Mercer attack was active in the early stages of the match, putting four shots on goal in the first 18 minutes.

Mercer would add to the lead in the 32^nd minute, as Sekou Agard scored his team-leading third goal of the year off of a free kick from Santamaria.

From that point on, the Bears used stifling defense to keep Memphis off of the board. The Bears held Memphis to just nine shots on the night, with only three on target. The clean sheet marks 399 minutes of play since Mercer has allowed a goal.

Trevor McMullen recorded three saves on the night, including a diving stop in the 67^th minute to improve his season save percentage to .813. The clean sheet brings his goals against average to a miniscule 0.60.

For the game, Mercer held the edge in shots on goal at 7-3. Both teams tallied nine shots and five corner kicks.

The Bears move to 2-1-2 on the season with the win.

SCORING SUMMARY

6' MERCER GOAL: Carlos Santamaria; ASSIST: Segun Afolabi
32' MERCER GOAL: Sekou Agard; ASSIST: Carlos Santamaria

TOP BEARS

+ Carlos Santamaria served as the catalyst for the Mercer attack, scoring a goal and tallying an assist. Sekou Agard joined in on the scoring with a goal, while Tomas Morales, Barzee Blama, Segun Afolabi and Kadeem Agard all put shots on goal
+ The Mercer back line was tremendous once again to help the Bears to another shutout. Sekou Agard, Woodi Pondeca and Natnael McDonald played all 90 minutes in the contest. Agard and Pondeca have played all 450 minutes this season, while McDonald has played 441.
+ Trevor McMullen tallied three saves en route to a fourth consecutive clean sheet. The shutout is the 17^th of his career

UP NEXT
Mercer will honor 11 seniors on Sunday when they celebrate senior day ahead of the match against Southern Indiana. Kick off is set for 11 a.m.