Mercer Cruises To 8-0 Win Over South Carolina State In Home Opener

Sunday, August 23

Macon, Ga.

2 p.m.

Mercer University

3-1-0, 0-0-0

South Carolina State

0-3-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
South Carolina St.	0	0	0
Mercer	2	6	8

Mercer Cruises To 8-0 Win Over South Carolina State In Home Opener

8/23/2026 5:27:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Bears scored six goals in first 15 minutes of second half

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer women's soccer team won in convincing fashion, 8-0 over South Carolina State in its home opener Sunday afternoon from Betts Stadium.

It is the largest margin of victory for the Bears since a 9-0 win over Berry College in August 2024. It is also the second shutout of the season for Mercer.

Mercer had control of the game from the beginning, outshooting South Carolina State 32-2 and holding the Lady Bulldogs without a shot on goal. Leading 2-0 at halftime, Mercer exploded for six goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half to jump out to an 8-0 lead.

The Bears had three freshmen score their first collegiate goal in Ashley Gilbert, Zibby Michaelson, and Emily Rutkowski. Michaelson scored a hat trick in under a 7 minute span of game time. Anna Bachman recorded a career high four assists as well for the Bears.

The scoring started in the 11th minute when Regan Moore took a quick free kick by playing a short ball to Gilbert. Gilbert took a few touches and took a long distance shot that bounced off the South Carolina State goalie's hands and went past her for the first career goal for Gilbert who was also making her first career start.

Junior midfielder Hayden Lepley scored a great goal in the 22nd minute when she gathered a loose ball at the top of the box and took a shot that bounced off the crossbar and came down just past the goal line for her first goal of the season to make it a 2-0 game.

Goals came quick and in a hurry to start the second half. Less than three minutes into the half, Olivia Bori played a ball down the right sideline to Bachman who then centered the ball to Michaelson who took a few touches, picked her head up and placed the ball just under the goalkeeper's left arm for her first career goal. Michaelson didn't take long to score her second and third goals which came in the 52nd and 55th minutes of the game as Mercer then led, 5-0.

Bori scored her third goal of the season in the 57th minute on a cross from Bachman as Bori deflected the ball with her first touch into the right side of the goal. Just over a minute later in the 58th minute, Bachman played a perfectly weighted pass up to Rutkowski who finished the chance for her first career goal to make it, 7-0. Bori scored her second goal of the game and fourth of the season in the 61st minute and the Bears eased to a strong 8-0 win.

SCORING SUMMARY
11'	MERCER GOAL: Ashley Gilbert (1) ASSISTS: Regan Moore
22'	MERCER GOAL: Hayden Lepley (1) ASSISTS: Unassisted
48'	MERCER GOAL: Zibby Michaelson (1) ASSISTS: Anna Bachman, Olivia Bori
52'	MERCER GOAL: Zibby Michaelson (2) ASSISTS: Bachman
55'	MERCER GOAL: Zibby Michaelson (3) ASSISTS: Marianna Rapani
57'	MERCER GOAL: Olivia Bori (3) ASSISTS: Anna Bachman, Mia Savarese
58'	MERCER GOAL: Emily Rutkowski (1) ASSISTS: Anna Bachman
61'	MERCER GOAL: Olivia Bori (4) ASSISTS: Unassisted

NOTABLES

+ The win was Mercer's largest margin of victory in a game since a 9-0 win over Berry College in 2023.
+ It is the second shutout of the season for the Bears.
+ Mercer outshot South Carolina State, 32-2 and held the Lady Bulldogs without a shot on goal.
+ Three different freshmen scored their first career goal (Ashley Gilbert, Zibby Michaelson, Emily Rutkowski).
+ Anna Bachman had a career high four assists.
+ Mercer scored six goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half.
+ Olivia Bori scored two goals and now leads the team with four goals on the season.
+ Freshman Valentina Ronga made her collegiate debut in goal.

UP NEXT

Mercer's next game is at home on Thursday, Aug. 27 against Georgia Southern. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from Betts Stadium or approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of the Mercer men's soccer game at 5 p.m.

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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.