Mercer Scores Twice Late, Holds On For 3-2 Win Over Kennesaw State

Thursday, September 4

Macon, Ga.

7 p.m.

Mercer University

3-2-0, 0-0-0

Kennesaw State

0-4-1, 0-0-0

Kennesaw St.

Mercer

Mercer Scores Twice Late, Holds On For 3-2 Win Over Kennesaw State

9/4/2025 10:41:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Sydney Farr scored the game-winning goal in the 84th minute

MACON, Ga. – Payton Nutzman and Sydney Farr scored one minute apart in the 83rd and 84th minute as Mercer held on to defeat Kennesaw State, 3-2 Thursday night from Betts Stadium.

More than one year since suffering a season-ending injury against North Florida, senior forward Sydney Farr announced her return to the field in emphatic fashion by scoring the game-winning goal in the 84th minute. It was Farr's first minutes of playing time in a game since suffering a season-ending injury at North Florida on Sept. 1, 2024.

All five goals in the game were scored in the second half, with three goals coming in the final 10 minutes of the game. Shots in the game were 19-12, Mercer and shots on goal were 11-3, Mercer.

After a scoreless first half that saw a few good scoring chances for the Bears, Mercer broke the game open in the 63rd minute as Morganne Eikelbarner received a pass from Nutzman 10 yards from the top of the box. Eikelbarner used a great first touch and turn to beat her defender down the left wing and place a left-footed shot to the bottom right corner of the goal for her first goal as a Mercer Bear.

Kennesaw State tied the game just six minutes later in the 69th minute as Anabel Orozco curled in a perfectly placed shot from the left win into the top left corner of the goal to tie the game at one.

In the 82nd minute, Nutzman took on her defender from the top of the box and took a right footed-shot from the top of the 6-yard box on the right wing that found its way under the Kennesaw State goalie's arm and into the bottom left of the goal to put Mercer on top, 2-1.

Just over one minute later, Anna Bachman beat her defender to the endline on the right wing and sent a low cross across the 6-yard box where Farr tapped in her first goal of the season to give the Bears a 3-1 lead in the 84th minute.

Kennesaw State was able to score a second goal with 23 seconds to play, but the Owls ran out of time to try and find an equalizing goal.

SCORING SUMMARY
63'	MERCER GOAL: Morganne Eikelbarner (1) ASSISTS: Payton Nutzman
69'	KENNESAW STATE GOAL: Anabel Orozco (1) ASSISTS: None
83'	MERCER GOAL: Payton Nutzman (4) ASSISTS: None
84'	MERCER GOAL: Sydney Farr (1) ASSISTS: Anna Bachman
90'	KENNESAW STATE GOAL: Alana Nesbit (1) ASSISTS: None

NOTABLES

+ In her first game back since suffering a season-ending injury on Sept. 1, 2024, Sydney Farr scored the game-winning goal in the 84th minute.
+ Mercer has won four straight games against Kennesaw State.
+ Freshman Payton Nutzman has scored four goals in her last two games.
+ Morganne Eikelbarner scored the first goal of the game, her first goal as a Mercer Bear.
+ Shots on goal were 11-3, Mercer.
+ Five field players for the Bears played the full 90 minutes.

UP NEXT

Next up for Mercer is Senior Day on Sunday, Sept. 7 as the Bears welcome Gardner-Webb to Betts Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.

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SUPPORT THE BEARS

Fans can help support the Mercer athletics department by making a gift to the Mercer Athletic Foundation. To find out more information about the Mercer Athletic Foundation, visit S upportMAF.com or email maf@mercer.edu.