Nutzman's Brace Lifts Mercer To Season Opening 2-1 Win Over Jackson State

Wednesday, August 12

Jackson, Miss.

4 p.m. ET

Mercer University

1-0-0, 0-0-0

Jackson State

0-1-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Mercer	2	0	2
Jackson St.	0	1	1

Nutzman's Brace Lifts Mercer To Season Opening 2-1 Win Over Jackson State

8/12/2026 7:32:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Nutzman scored both her goals in the first half

JACKSON, Miss. – Payton Nutzman scored two first half goals to lift Mercer to a 2-1 win over Jackson State Wednesday evening from Jackson, Mississippi in the season opener for both teams.

In a hot mid-August game in Jackson, Mississippi, the Bears used their bench to keep fresh as 25 players saw game action. It was also a physical game as each team committed 15 fouls with five yellow cards and one red card issued in the game.

Mercer outshot Jackson State 17-10, including a 12-2 shots on goals edge. Junior Ariel Bernard got her first career start for the Bears and made one save thanks in part to a stellar job from Mercer's back line not creating many great scoring chances for Jackson State.

In the 32nd minute Nutzman was tripped in the box and stepped up and placed her penalty kick in the top right corner for the first goal of the season as Mercer led, 1-0.

Then, 10 minutes later freshman Bella DeSantis played a ball from the left wing to Nutzman who then beat a few Jackson State defenders and took a low angle left-footed shot that hit the roof of the net to give the Bears a 2-0 lead.

Jackson State cut its deficit in half with a goal in the 61st minute, but the Bears held strong defensively and even created a few good looks on goal to regain their 2-goal lead, but the game finished 2-1, Mercer.

SCORING SUMMARY
32'	MERCER GOAL: Payton Nutzman (1) ASSISTS: None
42'	MERCER GOAL: Payton Nutzman (2) ASSISTS: Bella DeSantis
61'	JACKSON STATE GOAL: Kaila Tablado (1) ASSISTS: None

NOTABLES

+ Mercer is now 2-0 all-time against Jackson State.
+ Shots on goal were 12-2, Mercer.
+ In her first competitive game for the Bears since suffering a season-ending injury on Oct. 5, 2025, Nutzman scored two goals.
+ Freshman Bella DeSantis recorded her first career assist and point on Nutzman's second goal.
+ Mercer played 25 different players on a hot and sunny day in Jackson, Mississippi.

UP NEXT

Mercer's next game is on Sunday, Aug. 16 at in-state foe West Georgia. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. ET from Carrollton, Georgia.

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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.