Bears Set To Take Pitch Against UNC Greensboro In Semifinal Match

Sunday, November 9

Macon, Ga.

7 p.m.

Mercer University

UNC Greensboro

Tickets

Bears Set To Take Pitch Against UNC Greensboro In Semifinal Match

11/8/2025 12:30:00 PM | Men's Soccer

By: Rylee Bamberger, rylee.m.bamberger@live.mercer.edu

MACON – For the second time in the last eight days, the Mercer men's soccer team is set to take on the UNC Greensboro Spartans. After claiming the two seed in the Southern Conference tournament, the Bears earned home-field advantage, and a trip straight to the semifinals, on Sunday, November 9.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tickets are available digitally by clicking here or available for purchase at the gate.

MATCH INFO.
Date | Time: Sunday, November 9 | 7:00 p.m.
Teams: #2 Mercer vs #3 UNCG
Location: Macon, Ga. | Betts Stadium
Live Stats: Stats
Watch: ESPN+
Twitter Updates: @Mercer_MSoccer
Instagram: @mercermsoccer

Reflecting on the Bears' Regular Season

Mercer (5-8-4, 3-1-1 SoCon) went unbeaten in five of its last seven matches, including four wins or draws in conference play to secure the two seed. The Bears maintained a plus-1 goal differential against SoCon opponents to earn home-field advantage ahead of the tournament.

Junior Casillas, Mercer's leader in goals scored, assists and points, received All-SoCon First team honors after the conclusion of the regular season. In his first year in Macon, Casillas was a catalyst in the Bears' offense and bagged six goals with four coming in conference play.

The SoCon also named Eli Bannister to the All-Conference First team as well as the All-Freshman team. The first-year defender from Fayetteville, Georgia, netted two goals and assisted three more in his inaugural season at the collegiate level. Bannister's second collegiate goal came against ETSU with just seconds remaining on the scoreboard to complete a thrilling comeback.

Fernando Arteaga and Henry Hampshaw became members of the All-SoCon Second team while Will Taylor and Manza Masamuna joined Bannister on the All-Freshman squad.

Scouting the Spartans (again)

UNCG (11-3-4, 3-2-0 SoCon) enters the 2025 Southern Conference tournament as the No. 3 seed. The Spartans ended the regular ranked in all three major polls, with the highest being No. 19 by Topdrawersoccer.com.

Enzo Dovlo, Julien Le Bourdoulous and Sami Lachekar represented UNCG as members of the All-SoCon first team. Dovlo finished the regular season with the most goals of anyone in the SoCon (9) and has the 18th-most points in the country with 24.

The Spartans had five representatives on the All-SoCon Second team with Arnaud Tattevin headlining the group. The senior forward from Rennes, France, scored a hat trick within the first 30 minutes of UNCG's quarterfinals match against VMI and currently leads the SoCon with 11 goals.

Full Bracket

First Round

4) ETSU vs. 5) Wofford – 4 p.m. on November 7 in Greenville, S.C.
3) UNCG vs. 6) VMI – 7 p.m. on November 7 in Macon, GA

Semifinals

1) Furman vs. 5) Wofford – 2 p.m. on November 9 in Greenville, S.C.
2) Mercer vs. 3) UNCG – 7 p.m. on November 9 in Macon, GA

Finals

November 15 OR November 16 at highest remaining seed (time TBD)