Bears Strike Early, Roll Past VMI, 4-1

Sunday, October 18

Macon, Ga.

2 p.m.

Mercer University

7-7-2, 2-4-1

VMI

0-16-1, 0-8-0

Team	1	2	Final F
VMI	0	1	1
Mercer	1	3	4

10/18/2026 7:15:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Payton Nutzman scored a brace for the second straight game

MACON, Ga. – Payton Nutzman scored two goals for the second straight game and Mercer blitzed VMI with three quick goals early in the second half to pull away for a 4-1 win over VMI Sunday afternoon from Betts Stadium.

Mercer's (7-7-2, 2-4-1) four goals were its most scored in a conference game this season. The Bears scored three goals in less than a four minute span in the first six minutes of the second half to put the game out of reach for the Keydets.

Nutzman scored a brace for the second straight game, including the game's opening goal in the seventh minute. Mercer controlled play for most of the game, outshooting VMI, 30-8 and putting 17 shots on goal to VMI's five.

Nutzman's goal in the seventh minute came on a perfectly weighted ball from Olivia Bori through the VMI center back's. Nutzman took a right-footed shot first time that was saved by the VMi goalie but the ball bounced right back off Nutzman's leg and into the goal to give the Bears the early 1-0 lead. The score remained 1-0 at halftime despite 16 shots from the Bears in the half.

Mercer's halftime adjustments were seen right away, as less than two minutes into the second half, as Mercer quickly worked the ball up the field as Bori's cross-field pass was run onto by Ariel Bolton who took a few touches and crossed the ball across the 6-yard box to a sliding Marianna Rapani who put the ball into the wide open goal for her first goal of the season.

Less than one minute later in the 48th minute, Nutzman curled a right-footed shot from the top left corner of the box that found the far top right corner for her second goal of the season and Mercer led 3-0. Then, Nutzman took a corner kick in the 61st minute that was softly hit off the foot of Hayden Lepley right to Maria Karipidis who controlled the ball and placed her shot in the right, side netting of the goal for her first goal of the season to give the Bears a 4-0 lead. VMI was able to get one goal back in the 85th minute off a rebound following a save from Ariel Bernard.

SCORING SUMMARY
7'	MERCER GOAL: Payton Nutzman (6) ASSISTS: Olivia Bori
47'	MERCER GOAL: Marianna Rapani (1) ASSISTS: Ariel Bolton, Olivia Bori
48'	MERCER GOAL: Payton Nutzman (7) ASSISTS: Unassisted
61'	MERCER GOAL: Maria Karipidis (1) ASSISTS: Hayden Lepley, Payton Nutzman
85'	VMI GOAL: Emma Ward (1) ASSISTS: Samantha Uschold

NOTABLES

+ Mercer's four goals were its most scored in a conference game this season.
+ Mercer's 30 shots and 17 shots on goal were each second most in a game this season.
+ Payton Nutzman scored a brace for the second straight game. She has nine points in her last two games after not registering a point over her last nine games prior.
+ Marianna Rapani and Maria Karipidis scored their first goal of the season.
+ Mercer had 21 field players play 20 or more minutes.
+ The Bears had 16 different players register at least one shot. Nine of the 11 starters had at least one shot.

UP NEXT

Mercer will visit Western Carolina on Friday, Oct 23. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET from Cullowhee, North Carolina.

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