Karipidis Scores To Lift Bears To 1-0 Home Opener Win Over West Georgia

Sunday, August 24

Macon, Ga.

6 p.m.

Mercer University

1-1-0, 0-0-0

West Georgia

0-4-0, 0-0-0

West Ga.

Mercer

Karipidis Scores To Lift Bears To 1-0 Home Opener Win Over West Georgia

8/24/2025 9:43:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Maria Karipidis scored the game-winning goal in the 77th minute

MACON, Ga. – Freshman Payton Nutzman sent a perfect cross into the box and Maria Karipidis was there to head the ball in the back of the net in the 77th minute for the lone goal of the game as Mercer defeated in-state foe West Georgia, 1-0 in the Bears' home opener Sunday night from Betts Stadium in Macon, Georgia.

In a game in which Mercer had the better of possession and scoring chances, the Bears just weren't quite clinical enough in the final third to put more than one goal in the back of the net.

Shots in the game were 29-9, Mercer and shots on goal were 12-1, Mercer. Shots in the game came from a plethora of Bears, including nine of the 10 starting field players took at least one shot in the game. Nutzman, along with fellow freshman Kelsie Henton each tied for the team high with five shots on the night. Henton led the team with four of her shots on goal.

Nutzman's assist on the Karipidis goal was the first career assist for the freshman midfielder. As for Karipidis, it was her fifth career goal after scoring two goals in each of her first two collegiate seasons with the Bears.

Mercer's back line and midfield played well most of the night, limiting West Georgia to one shot on goal and few quality scoring chances around the 18-yard box.

SCORING SUMMARY
77'	MERCER GOAL: Maria Karipidis (1) ASSISTS: Payton Nutzman, Lena Dykes

NOTABLES

+ Shots were 29-12 and shots on goal were 12-1 in favor of Mercer.
+ Lindsay Bell picked up her 19th career shutout.
+ Maria Karipidis scored her fifth career goal.
+ Freshman Payton Nutzman earned her first career assist on the goal from Karipidis.
+ Senior defender Lena Dykes had the secondary assist on the goal. Her eighth career assist.
+ Three players on Mercer's starting backline played the full 90 minutes (Lena Dykes, Regan Moore, Maggie Rollins.)
+ Five of Mercer's six corners came in the second half.

UP NEXT

Mercer returns to the pitch on Friday, Aug. 29 as the Bears head to Tuscaloosa to face the Alabama Crimson Tide. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT.

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