Mercer Uses Big Second Half To Pull Away For 5-0 Win Over Alabama State

Sunday, September 6

Macon, Ga.

2 p.m.

Mercer University

5-3-0, 0-0-0

Alabama State

0-6-1, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Alabama St.	0	0	0
Mercer	1	4	5

Mercer Uses Big Second Half To Pull Away For 5-0 Win Over Alabama State

9/6/2026 10:38:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

It is the second straight shoutout for the Bears

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer women's soccer team used a four-goal second half to pull away from the visiting Alabama State Hornets as the Bears won 5-0 on Senior Day Sunday afternoon, from Betts Stadium.

Mercer recognized its five seniors in a pregame ceremony: Peyton Kreul, Maria Karipidis, Olivia Bori, Anna Bachman, and Maya Buhler.

It is the second straight shutout for the Bears and fourth of the season. The Bears are now 6-0 all-time against Alabama State.

Mercer outshot Alabama State, 26-10, but Mercer only had six shots on goal to five for the Hornets. Mercer once again went deep to its bench as 27 players saw game action, including all three goalies. Avery Parker got the start in goal, before Ariel Bernard and Valentina Ronga each came on in the second half.

Mercer scored just once in the first half and the goal came early. In the ninth minute, Marianna Rapani received a pass inside the box from Regan Moore and Rapani crossed the ball to Olivia Bori who on her first touch, placed her shot past the Alabama State goalie for her seventh goal of the season to give Mercer the 1-0 lead.

Despite taking just a one goal lead into halftime, Mercer quickly added to its lead in the second half as in the 48th minute, Anna Bachman's corner kick was headed in by an Alabama State defender for an own goal. In the 55th minute, a Mercer cross was punched away by the diving Alabama State goalie but the ball deflected off a Hornets defender and went in the back of the net for a second own goal by the Hornets as Mercer led 3-0.

In the 56th minute, Hayden Lepley dribbled through a crowd of Alabama State defenders and took a shot in the box that beat the Alabama State keeper to give the Bears a 4-0 lead.

Mercer's fifth goal of the game came off a corner kick in the 81st minute when Kelsie Henton's cross found the head of freshman Zibby Michaelson who headed in her fifth goal of the season as Mercer finished off Alabama State for its fifth win of the season.

SCORING SUMMARY
9'	MERCER GOAL: Olivia Bori (1) ASSISTS: Marianna Rapani, Regan Moore
48'	MERCER GOAL: Alabama State own goal ASSISTS: Unassisted
55'	MERCER GOAL: Alabama State own goal ASSISTS: Unassisted
56'	MERCER GOAL: Hayden Lepley (2) ASSISTS: Unassisted
81'	MERCER GOAL: Zibby Michaelson (5) ASSISTS: Kelsie Henton

NOTABLES

+ The Bears picked up their fourth shutout of the season and second in a row.
+ All three Mercer goalies saw time in goal.
+ Mercer outshout Alabama State 26-10.
+ Olivia Bori scored her team high seventh goal of the season. She has scored in five of the eight games this season.
+ Three different Mercer players had four shots in the game.
+ Mercer outscored Alabama State 4-0 in the second half. The Bears scored two goals in 55 seconds in the second half.

UP NEXT

Mercer heads back on the road to visit USF, Thursday Sept. 10. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET from Tampa, Florida.

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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.