Bears Score Five Goals In First Half In 6-1 Win At Alabama State

Sunday, August 31

Montgomery, Ala.

2 p.m.

Mercer University

2-2-0, 0-0-0

Alabama State

0-4-1, 0-0-0

Mercer

Alabama St.

Bears Score Five Goals In First Half In 6-1 Win At Alabama State

8/31/2025 5:13:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Freshman Payton Nutzman led Mercer offensively with three goals and one assist

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Freshman Payton Nutzman scored three goals to go with one assist to pace Mercer offensively in a dominant 6-1 road win over Alabama State Sunday afternoon from Montgomery, Alabama.

Five of Mercer's six goals came in the first half with the Bears scoring twice in the opening seven minutes of the game. In addition to Nutzman's three goals, three other Bears found the back of the net in Marianna Rapani, Hayden Lepley and Maria Karipidis.

Shots in the game were 23-8, Mercer and shots on goal were 14-4, Mercer. Nutzman had a game-high five shots on goal and freshman Francesca Pugliese was second on the team with three shots on goal.

Rapani got things started for the Bears in the third minute, beating her defender near the endline and sliding a right-footed shot near post for the goal. Just minutes later, Nutzman was tripped in the box and slotted home her first collegiate goal on the ensuing penalty kick to put Mercer up, 2-0 just over six minutes into the game.

Alabama State cut the deficit in half to make it 2-1 in the 11th minute. Then, in the 19th minute Nutzman controlled a pass in the midfield took a couple of dribbles and took a long distance shot from the middle of the field that went over the Alabama State goalie's outstretched hand and under the crossbar for her second goal of the game to put Mercer up 3-1.

Just four minutes later, midfielder Nutzman sent a beautiful pass over the top of Alabama State's back line where Lepley ran onto the ball and curled a right-footed shot far post from just inside the box for the goal to put Mercer ahead, 4-1.

Mercer's fifth goal of the half came in the 29th minute as Sara Engels lined up to take a free kick from just outside the box. Instead of attempting to go for goal, Engels played a slick pass in front of the Hornets' wall to Karipidis who took a few touches to beat her defender before finding the back of the net to make it 5-1, Bears.

The lone goal of the second half came in the 78th minute as Nutzman received a pass from Morganne Eikelbarner and took a shot from about 25 yards out that found the top left corner of the goal for her hat trick.

Mercer stayed fresh on a hot and sunny day by playing all 17 healthy field players. Lindsay Bell made three saves in goal for the Bears.

SCORING SUMMARY
3'	MERCER GOAL: Marianna Rapani (1) ASSISTS: None
7'	MERCER GOAL: Payton Nutzman (1) ASSISTS: None
11'	ALABAMA STATE GOAL: Rhamsey Griffith (1) ASSISTS: None
19'	MERCER GOAL: Payton Nutzman (2) ASSISTS: None
23'	MERCER GOAL: Hayden Lepley (1) ASSISTS: Payton Nutzman
28'	MERCER GOAL: Maria Karipdis (2) ASSISTS: Sara Engels
78'	MERCER GOAL: Payton Nutzman (3) ASSISTS: Morganne Eikelbarner

NOTABLES

+ Freshman Payton Nutzman scored her first career goal along with a hat trick and a 7-point game (3G, 1A).
+ Shots on goal were 14-4, Mercer.
+ Junior Maria Karipidis scored her second goal of the season. She has scored at least two goals in each of her first three seasons with the Bears.
+ Morganne Eikelbarner earned her first career assist with the Bears, assisting on Nutzman's third goal of the game.
+ Mercer scored two goals four minutes apart in one time span and three goals nine minutes apart in another time span.
+ There were 17 field players who saw playing time for the Bears.
+ Lindsay Bell made three saves in goal.

UP NEXT

Mercer returns home on Thursday, Sept. 4 as the Bears welcome in-state foe Kennesaw State to Betts Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

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