Bears Host Charleston Southern and Jacksonville State this Weekend

MACON, Ga. (MERCER RELEASE) – The Mercer women’s soccer team continues its season-long seven-game homestand this weekend when it hosts Charleston Southern and Jacksonville State at Bear Field.

The Bears first welcome Charleston Southern into town on Thursday, Sept. 12 for a 7 p.m. start before closing out the weekend against Jacksonville State on Sunday, Sept. 16 at 4 p.m.

Scouting the Opposition

Charleston Southern comes into play on Thursday evening with a 3-2-0 overall record after most recently dropping a 3-2 decision at The Citadel on Sept. 8. Offense has been the name of the game for the Buccaneers early on in 2013, as they have already scored 12 goals in just five games this season. Senior forward Toni Lashley leads the CSU attack with 10 points on four goals and two assists. The Buccaneers were picked to finish eighth in the Big South Preseason Coaches’ poll after returning nine starters back from a team that went 7-11-1 last season.

Jacksonville State is 2-2-1 on the young season and hosts Troy at home on Sept. 13 before taking on Mercer in Macon on Sunday. The Gamecocks and Bears share one common opponent this season in Alabama A&M, who Jacksonville State beat 4-0 and Mercer downed 10-0 in its season opener. Junior midfielder Jackie Rush paces the JSU attack with a team-high four goals thus far in 2013. Jacksonville State was picked to finish seventh in the Ohio Valley Preseason Coaches’ poll after returning seven starters from a team that went 10-8-2 last season.

Last Time Out

MACON, Ga. – Despite outshooting one of the premier teams in the Southeastern Conference, the Mercer women’s soccer team came out on the wrong end of a 2-0 decision against Tennessee on Sept. 8 at Bear Field.

Mercer (2-3-1) out-shot Tennessee (5-1) 19-13, including a 9-7 edge in shots on goal, but were unable to finish a chance in the final third in its fourth-straight match against a member of the SEC.

Mercer goalkeeper Maggie Cropp was tremendous in net all day long for the Bears, making five saves in the contest. Junior Stephanie Giangiuli led the Orange and Black with four shots in the loss.

Game Notes

– Mercer currently has five of the top eight point scorers in the A-Sun Conference in 2013. Junior Lauren Gassie ranks second in the A-Sun with eight points while juniors Tess Patton and Washida Blackman, sophomore Sydney Brogden and freshman Annie Barrett are all tied for fifth in the league with five points each.