Mercer Men’s Soccer Downs USC Upstate 3-1 in A-Sun Opener

MACON, Ga. (MERCER RELEASE) – The Mercer men’s soccer team found its groove offensively to earn a 3-1 win over USC Upstate in its Atlantic Sun Conference opener on Friday evening at Bear Field.

Mercer (3-7-0, 1-0-0 A-Sun) won its A-Sun Conference opener for the sixth-straight season under head coach Brad Ruzzo.

The Bears scored a season-high three goals tonight for their first three-goal performance since a 3-0 win over North Florida on Oct. 18, 2012.

The Bears got out to an early lead in just the fourth minute of play when sophomore Juan Jose Morales settled a long throw from senior Joey Heavner and fired a shot low past the keeper to give Mercer a 1-0 advantage.

Coming out of halftime still ahead 1-0, Mercer doubled its lead in the 55th minute of play thanks to senior Ehjayson Henry. Henry received a lay-off pass from classmate Ryan King and slid in a shot low and to the right of the keeper for his team-high fifth goal of the season to make the score 2-0.

After a USC Upstate goal by junior Dave Musambi made the score 2-1, Mercer put the game out of reach late when sophomore David Murtaugh scored on a breakaway chance to make the final score 3-1.

Heavner recorded two assists in the game for his fourth multi-assist game of his career. The Landisville, Pa. native is now up to 20 career assists which ranks second all-time in Mercer program history behind Maxwell Rooke, who had 22 career assists.

Mercer goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh made three saves in the contest to pick up the win.

Mercer returns to action on October 6 when it welcomes East Tennessee State into town. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Bear Field.