Men’s Soccer Prepares for Season Opener at Betts

Friday, August 22

Macon, Ga.

10 a.m.

Mercer University

Oglethorpe

Men’s Soccer Prepares for Season Opener at Betts

8/20/2025 2:15:00 PM | Men's Soccer

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

MACON – For the first time since 2022, the Bears defend Betts Stadium to begin the regular season on Thursday, August 21 from the Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels.

MATCH INFO.
Date | Time: Thursday, August 21 | 7 P.M.
Teams: Mercer vs. Oglethorpe
Location: Macon, Ga. | Betts Stadium
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Stats
Twitter Updates: @Mercer_MSoccer
Instagram: @mercermsoccer

The New-Look Bears

Mercer enters the season with a completely revamped roster. The Bears have no returning starters from the 2024 squad that finished with a 6-5-7 (1-2-2 SoCon) record and have brought in 20 new players for 2025.

Tommy Redd, Grant Hampton and Fernando Arteaga headline the eight returning Bears. Ehi Aimiuwu, Aaron Pondeca, Stephen O'Hearn, Flint Haligas and Lawson Cummins round out the rest of the returners.

The Bears have brought in a recruiting class of 12 freshmen, a trio of sophomore transfers, three graduate students and a pair of junior transfers ahead of the 2025 campaign.
There were also some new changes to the coaching staff. As head coach Brad Ruzzo enters his 18th season at Mercer, he promoted Ricky Davey to Associate Head Coach in their second season together in Macon.

Joining the staff in 2025 is one of the best defenders in Mercer men's soccer history, Sekou Agard, and former All-American goalkeeper, Aidan Leak. Both Agard and Leak are entering their first year of their coaching careers.

Peering in the Birdcage

The Stormy Petrels are coming off a 9-3-6 season, lifting the fourth Southern Athletic Association championship in their program history, while also reaching the NCAA DIII tournament for their second straight year (fifth NCAA tournament appearance all time).

A senior-heavy side in 2024, Oglethorpe had 21 players graduate, including star forward Ben Alram. Alram, a two-time All-American, finished second with five goals for the Stormy Petrels to cap off his legendary career.

The Stormy Petrels welcome back five returners to complement a squad that includes 11 new underclassmen, four juniors and three graduate student/senior transfers.

Owen VanMarter, a senior defender, returns with the most experience in an Oglethorpe kit. The Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, native appeared in 16 of the Stormy Petrel's 18 matches where he notched two goals and two assists in 997 minutes last season.

A Familiar Face

Dylan Gaither, one of the most decorated midfielders in Mercer history, makes his return to Betts Stadium as an assistant coach on Oglethorpe's staff. The Lilburn, Georgia, native played five seasons for the Bears, racking up several awards and honors.

During Gaither's tenure at Mercer, he filled up the record book. Gaither currently sits with the fourth most goals in a single season (14), has the fifth most goals in school history (30), has the second-most assists in a single season and a career (10 and 22, respectively), scored the third most points in a single season (33) and has the fourth most career points (82).

Gaither received multiple All-Conference honors and lifted three conference championships before hanging up the cleats and joining Mercer's coaching staff for the 2024 season. He finished his bachelor's degree in the Spring of 2023 before receiving his Master of Business Administration in the Winter of 2024.