Mercer And Western Carolina Finish In A 2-2 Draw

Friday, October 23

Cullowhee, N.C.

7 p.m.

Mercer University

7-7-3, 2-4-2

Western Carolina

4-9-3, 2-4-2

Team	1	2	Final F
Mercer	2	0	2
Western Caro.	1	1	2

10/23/2026 11:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Karipidis and Bori scored penalty kicks for the Bears

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Maria Karipidis and Olivia Bori each scored first half penalty kicks as the Mercer women's soccer team played Western Carolina to a 2-2 draw Friday night from the Catamount Athletic Complex in Cullowhee, North Carolina.

Mercer's (7-7-3, 2-4-2) outshot Western Carolina (4-9-3, 2-4-2), ,19-16, but the Catamounts had more shots on goal than the Bears with 11 to Mercer's seven. Each team had its fair chances to score on corner kicks with Mercer taking nine corners to Western Carolina's eight.

In the 14th minute, Karipidis dribbled past her defender down the left wing and cut into the box where she was tripped, awarding a penalty kick for the Bears. Karipidis calmly stepped up to the penalty spot and placed her shot in the far right corner for her second goal in as many games which gave Mercer a 1-0 lead.

In the 31st minute, a Western Carolina defender handled a Mercer cross in the box, once again giving the Bears a penalty kick. This time, Bori took the penalty kick and like Karipidis, beat the Catamount goalie with a low shot to the right post to give Mercer a 2-0 lead.

However, Mercer's two-goal cushion was short-lived as just two minutes later, Western Carolina's Samantha Vibberts took a left-footed shot from outside the box that bounced off the right post and went in to make it a 2-1 game. The score remained 2-1 at halftime.

Mercer started the second half on the front foot. In the first 10 minutes of the half, the Bears had four shots and four corner kicks but were unable to find a third goal. In the 69th minute Western Carolina's Darien Vita cut in from the right wing and scored her first goal of the season to tie the game at two. The final 20 minutes saw a few chances at both ends, but both defenses and goalies held strong as the game finished in a 2-2 draw.

SCORING SUMMARY
14'	MERCER GOAL: Maria Karipidis (2) ASSISTS: Unassisted
31'	MERCER GOAL: Olivia Bori (8) ASSISTS: Unassisted
33'	WESTERN CAROLINA GOAL: Samantha Vibberts (2) ASSISTS: Maddie Lopez
69'	WESTERN CAROLINA GOAL: Darien Vita (1) ASSISTS: Eliza Rich

NOTABLES

+ Mercer took a two-goal lead for the third straight game.
+ Maria Karipidis scored her second goal in as many games.
+ Olivia Bori scored her team leading eighth goal of the season.
+ Avery Parker made a season high nine saves in goal.
+ Bori led Mercer with six shots, including three on goal.
+ Mercer's nine corners were its second most in a conference game this season.

UP NEXT

Mercer returns home to play its final two regular season games. First up is a matchup against Furman on Thursday, Oct. 29 at Betts Stadium.

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