Bears Drop Road Contest With No. 24 Denver

Sunday, September 14

Denver, Colo.

5 p.m.

Mercer University

2-4-2, 0-0-0

#24 Denver

4-3-0, 0-0-0

Mercer

Denver

9/14/2025 7:51:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

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

DENVER, Colo. – The Mercer men's soccer team fell in Sunday night's match against the No. 24 Denver Pioneers (4-3-0), 2-1, at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium. The Bears (2-4-2) return to Betts Stadium for Senior Day against North Florida this upcoming Saturday.

The Pioneers broke the scoring first in the 28th minute with Dylan Akau's first goal of the season. Mercer responded quickly, finding the equalizer just four minutes later to steal all momentum going into the break.

The Bears won a throw-in deep in Denver's half and Eli Bannister fed a ball into the 18-yard box. Ethan Buffone deflected it into the middle of the box and Ehi Aimiuwu smashed it into the back of the net for his second goal of the season.

Denver's Kyle McGowan scored in the 49th minute to give Denver its 2-1 lead.

Freshman Will Taylor led Mercer's attack with three shots, including two in the final 23 minutes of the match. Bryce Griffith followed closely behind with two shots in the final seven minutes, forcing Isaac Nehme to make a save.

Notables

Aimiuwu recorded his second goal of the 2025 campaign in Sunday night's loss. The junior forward has bagged five goals in his Mercer career.
Buffone notched the first goal contribution of his collegiate career. The freshman has been a key piece to Mercer's backline and earned his first assist of the season.
Bannister has two goal contributions in his last two matches. The freshman defender scored his first collegiate goal in Thursday night's loss before adding his first collegiate assist on Sunday.