Wednesday, August 12
Jackson, Miss.
4 p.m. ET
Mercer University
at
Jackson State
Women's Soccer Opens Season At Jackson State On Wednesday
8/11/2026 4:16:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Kickoff is at 4 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. CT from Jackson, Mississippi
MACON, Ga. - The Mercer women's soccer team travels to Jackson, Mississippi to take on Jackson State Wednesday afternoon in the 2026 season opener.
MATCH INFO.
Date | Time: Wednesday, Aug. 12 | 4 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. CT
Teams: Mercer (0-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 SoCon) at Jackson State (0-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 SWAC)
Location: Jackson, MS | JSU Soccer Field
Watch: SWACTV
Live Stats: Stats
Twitter Updates:@MercerWSoccer
SERIES HISTORY
Mercer leads the all-time series 1-0-0. The last only prior meeting between the two teams was in September 19, 2021 in Macon when the Bears won, 2-1.
PREVIEWING THE 2026 MERCER BEARS
The Bears will take the field for the first time in 2026 following a 2025 campaign that saw the Bears finish sixth in the SoCon with a 10-7-3 overall record and 3-3-3 record in SoCon play. In the SoCon Tournament, Mercer defeated the No. 3 seed ETSU in the quarterfinals and the No. 2 seed Western Carolina in the semifinals and advanced to the SoCon Championship game before falling to Samford.
The Bears return a number of players and starters from last year's team, including Preseason All-SoCon selections, sophomore midfielder Payton Nutzman and senior defneder Anna Bachman. Despite losing its top goal scorer from a season ago, Nutzman will look to build on a stellar freshman campaign that was cut short due to an injury in which she still finished with seven goals and five assists for 19 points which was second most on the team.
Between Bachman, junior defender Maggie Rollins and sophomore defender Regan Moore, Mercer will have a wealth of experience on its back line as together the three combined for 58 starts last year.
The Bears will be deep at midfield where they return numerous players in the middle and outside midfield positions. Outside of Nutzman, senior midfielder Maria Karipidis scored the next most goals among the Mercer midfield with four goals.
Up top, Mercer will look for someone or perhaps multiple players to step up after Morganne Eikelbarner graduated following last season in which she scored a team best 10 goals.
There are 11 freshmen on the team looking to make their impact, along with a pair of transfers. Mercer's only returning goalie from last season is junior Avery Parker who played in 10 games while making six starts.
SCOUTING JACKSON STATE
Jackson State enters the 2026 season as the Preseason favorites to once again win the Southwest Atlantic Conference (SWAC). Last year, the Tigers went 9-7-3 overall and finished 6-1-1 in the SWAC.
Five Tigers were named to the 2026 All-SWAC Soccer Preseason Team, including sophomore goalkeeper, Taylor Osborn who was named SWAC Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year and All-SWAC First Team. Osborn finished last season with a 0.64 goals against average and allowed just 8 goals in 14 appearances.
Jackson State returns its leading goal scorer from a year ago in senior midfielder Ryanne Hawthorn-Harper who finished with seven goals last season.
MATCH INFO.
Date | Time: Wednesday, Aug. 12 | 4 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. CT
Teams: Mercer (0-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 SoCon) at Jackson State (0-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 SWAC)
Location: Jackson, MS | JSU Soccer Field
Watch: SWACTV
Live Stats: Stats
Twitter Updates:@MercerWSoccer
SERIES HISTORY
Mercer leads the all-time series 1-0-0. The last only prior meeting between the two teams was in September 19, 2021 in Macon when the Bears won, 2-1.
PREVIEWING THE 2026 MERCER BEARS
The Bears will take the field for the first time in 2026 following a 2025 campaign that saw the Bears finish sixth in the SoCon with a 10-7-3 overall record and 3-3-3 record in SoCon play. In the SoCon Tournament, Mercer defeated the No. 3 seed ETSU in the quarterfinals and the No. 2 seed Western Carolina in the semifinals and advanced to the SoCon Championship game before falling to Samford.
The Bears return a number of players and starters from last year's team, including Preseason All-SoCon selections, sophomore midfielder Payton Nutzman and senior defneder Anna Bachman. Despite losing its top goal scorer from a season ago, Nutzman will look to build on a stellar freshman campaign that was cut short due to an injury in which she still finished with seven goals and five assists for 19 points which was second most on the team.
Between Bachman, junior defender Maggie Rollins and sophomore defender Regan Moore, Mercer will have a wealth of experience on its back line as together the three combined for 58 starts last year.
The Bears will be deep at midfield where they return numerous players in the middle and outside midfield positions. Outside of Nutzman, senior midfielder Maria Karipidis scored the next most goals among the Mercer midfield with four goals.
Up top, Mercer will look for someone or perhaps multiple players to step up after Morganne Eikelbarner graduated following last season in which she scored a team best 10 goals.
There are 11 freshmen on the team looking to make their impact, along with a pair of transfers. Mercer's only returning goalie from last season is junior Avery Parker who played in 10 games while making six starts.
SCOUTING JACKSON STATE
Jackson State enters the 2026 season as the Preseason favorites to once again win the Southwest Atlantic Conference (SWAC). Last year, the Tigers went 9-7-3 overall and finished 6-1-1 in the SWAC.
Five Tigers were named to the 2026 All-SWAC Soccer Preseason Team, including sophomore goalkeeper, Taylor Osborn who was named SWAC Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year and All-SWAC First Team. Osborn finished last season with a 0.64 goals against average and allowed just 8 goals in 14 appearances.
Jackson State returns its leading goal scorer from a year ago in senior midfielder Ryanne Hawthorn-Harper who finished with seven goals last season.
| STAY CONNECTED |
| Follow Mercer Soccer on Twitter and Instagram and "Like" Mercer Soccer on Facebook. |
| 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 SupportMAF.com or email maf@mercer.edu. |
Players Mentioned
D
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
D
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