Bannister Named Offensive Player Of The Week
10/21/2025 2:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
MACON – Eli Bannister became the first Mercer Bear to receive Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors this season, the SoCon announced this afternoon.
Bannister is the first Bear to be named the SoCon Offensive Player of the Week since Sekou Agard on October 15, 2024. He is the first freshman to receive this honor since Barzee Blama on September 19, 2023.
The freshman defender turned in the best performance of his young collegiate career, capping off Mercer's stunning 3-2 comeback victory over East Tennessee State this past Saturday with the game-winning header.
Bannister raced across the 18-yard box, soared over a defender, and put his head on the receiving end of Fernando Arteaga's corner to find the back of the net in the 89th minute. Bannister also assisted the Bears' opening goal in the 16th minute after he dissected the Bucs' back line and squared a ball for Ehi Aimiuwu.
The Fayetteville, Georgia, native has two goals and three assists for seven points while primarily serving as Mercer's left back. To this point, the Sandy Creek High School product has appeared in all but one match for the Bears, logging the fifth-most minutes on the squad and has served as a vital piece to Mercer in every phase of play.
Before coming to Macon, Bannister had a successful high school/club career. In his junior season, Bannister scored 29 goals and added eight assists to earn All-Star, All-Region and All-County honors at Whitewater High School. Bannister also played for Concorde Fire FC in the ECNL.
Bannister and the Bears are back at Betts Stadium for their last homestand of the regular season. Mercer plays against Jacksonville tonight at 5 p.m. before hosting the Baba Agbaje Memorial Game against VMI this Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Admission is free.
Bannister is the first Bear to be named the SoCon Offensive Player of the Week since Sekou Agard on October 15, 2024. He is the first freshman to receive this honor since Barzee Blama on September 19, 2023.
The freshman defender turned in the best performance of his young collegiate career, capping off Mercer's stunning 3-2 comeback victory over East Tennessee State this past Saturday with the game-winning header.
Bannister raced across the 18-yard box, soared over a defender, and put his head on the receiving end of Fernando Arteaga's corner to find the back of the net in the 89th minute. Bannister also assisted the Bears' opening goal in the 16th minute after he dissected the Bucs' back line and squared a ball for Ehi Aimiuwu.
The Fayetteville, Georgia, native has two goals and three assists for seven points while primarily serving as Mercer's left back. To this point, the Sandy Creek High School product has appeared in all but one match for the Bears, logging the fifth-most minutes on the squad and has served as a vital piece to Mercer in every phase of play.
Before coming to Macon, Bannister had a successful high school/club career. In his junior season, Bannister scored 29 goals and added eight assists to earn All-Star, All-Region and All-County honors at Whitewater High School. Bannister also played for Concorde Fire FC in the ECNL.
Bannister and the Bears are back at Betts Stadium for their last homestand of the regular season. Mercer plays against Jacksonville tonight at 5 p.m. before hosting the Baba Agbaje Memorial Game against VMI this Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Admission is free.
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