Mercer Cruises To 5-0 Win Over Gardner-Webb On Senior Day

Sunday, September 7

Macon, Ga.

4 p.m.

Mercer University

4-2-0, 0-0-0

Gardner-Webb

1-5-1, 0-0-0

Gardner-Webb

Mercer

Mercer Cruises To 5-0 Win Over Gardner-Webb On Senior Day

9/7/2025 8:25:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Senior Morganne Eikelbarner scored a hat trick

MACON, Ga. – Senior Morganne Eikelbarner scored her first career hat trick and the Mercer Bears rolled to a 5-0 win at home over Gardner-Webb on Senior Day from Betts Stadium Sunday afternoon.

Mercer outshot Gardner-Webb 28-13, including a 14-5 shots on goal advantage. Hayden Lepley and freshman Kelsie Henton were the other goal scorers on the day for the Bears. Lindsay Bell earned her 20th career shutout in goal for Mercer and made five saves in the game.

Eikelbarner's first two goals came four minutes apart. First, in the 14th minute she received a pass at the top of the box from Payton Nutzman and quickly turned and struck a left-footed shot to the bottom left corner to get the Bears on the board.

Her second goal came from nearly the same spot on the field just inside the top of the box and again took a left-footed shot that beat the Gardner-Webb goalie up high to make it 2-0 Bears.

Mercer added a third goal in the 27th minute when Henton sent a left-footed cross from the right wing to the penalty spot and Lepley lost her defender and headed the ball of the post and into the net for her second goal of the season. Henton's assist was the first of her career.

The Bears had a few chances through the first 35 minutes of the second half, but didn't find a fourth goal until the 82nd minute when Maddie Hill crossed a ball from the left wing and Henton was left unmarked backside at the top of the box. She settled the ball and took a left-footed shot that beat the Gardner-Webb goalie near post to the bottom right corner for Henton's first career goal.

Eikelbarner scored her hat trick in the 85th minute as Nutzman took a free kick from midfield and Eikelbarner one-timed a loose ball inside the 6-yard box into the goal to make it 5-0 Mercer.

SCORING SUMMARY
14'	MERCER GOAL: Morganne Eikelbarner (2) ASSISTS: Payton Nutzman, Sydney Farr
18'	MERCER GOAL: Morganne Eikelbarner (3) ASSISTS: None
27'	MERCER GOAL: Hayden Lepley (2) ASSISTS: Kelsie Henton
82'	MERCER GOAL: Kelsie Henton (1) ASSISTS: Maddie Hill
85'	MERCER GOAL: Morganne Eikelbarner (4) ASSISTS: None

NOTABLES

+ Mercer's five goals were the second most the Bears have scored in a game this season (6 at Alabama State).
+ Senior Morganne Eikelbarner scored her first career hat trick on Senior Day.
+ Freshman Kelsie Henton scored her first career goal and got her first career assists
+ Lindsay Bell earned her 20th career shutout.
+ Shots on goal were 14-5, Mercer.
+ Payton Nutzman had one assist and is now on a 3-game point streak.

UP NEXT

Next up for Mercer is another home game on Thursday, Sept. 11 as the Bears welcome Winthrop to Betts Stadium. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m.

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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.