Bears Drop SoCon Opener 1-0 At ETSU

Thursday, September 17

Johnson City, Tenn.

6 p.m.

Mercer University

5-4-1, 0-1-0

East Tennessee State

4-3-1, 1-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Mercer	0	0	0
ETSU	0	1	1

9/17/2026 10:35:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – An ETSU penalty kick goal in the 83rd minute was enough for the ETSU Buccaneers to defeat the Mercer women's soccer team by a final of 1-0 Thursday night from Summers-Taylor Stadium in Johnson City, Tennessee.

In the SoCon Opener for both teams, ETSU outshot Mercer, 17-7 and had a season high 11 corners, but the Mercer defense stood strong until allowing the game-winning penalty kick in the 83rd minute. ETSU's Reagan Fitzgerald scored from the spot for her fourth goal fo the season.

The Bears had a great chance to tie the game in the 89th minute when ETSU's goalie Addison Yelton couldn't handle a Mercer cross and Ariel Bolton's shot was saved by Yelton before the rebound found the foot of Emily Rutkowski at the top of the box who took the shot first time but a sprawling ETSU defender cleared the ball right in front of the goal line to preserve the win for the Bucs.

SCORING SUMMARY
83'	ETSU GOAL: Reagan Fitzgerald (4) ASSISTS: Unassisted

NOTABLES

+ .Mercer had seven shots in the game with Maria Karipidis the only Bears with two shots or more.
+ The Bears were shutout for just the second time this seasno (vs Georgia)
+ Avery Parker made five saves in goal for Mercer.
+ The Bears drop to 3-2-1 on the road this season.

UP NEXT

Mercer visits Samford next Friday, September 25 in a rematch of last year's SoCon Tournament Championship game. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT from Birmingham, Alabama.

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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.