Mercer Women’s Soccer Hits Road for Key A-Sun Tilts at ETSU and USC Upstate

MACON, Ga. (MERCER RELEASE) – After splitting a pair of games during its opening weekend of Atlantic Sun Conference, the Mercer women’s soccer team hits the road for two key league tilts.

Mercer (6-5-1, 1-1-0 A-Sun) takes on East Tennessee State first on October 4 at 7 p.m. before closing out the weekend against USC Upstate on October 6 at 2 p.m.

Scouting the Opposition

East Tennessee State sports a 5-4-1 overall record and more importantly a 1-0 mark in league play after downing USC Upstate 7-1 in its conference opener on Sept. 28. ETSU and Mercer share two common opponents this season in Alabama A&M and Western Carolina, with the Bears going 1-1 and the Buccaneers posting a 1-0-1 record in those contests. The Bucs feature an explosive offense that leads the A-Sun and ranks 24th in the nation averaging 2.5 goals per game. The key to the ETSU attack thus far in 2013 has been sophomore midfielder Sarah Zadrazil, who has 18 points and ranks second in the country with 10 assists.

USC Upstate has enjoyed a solid start to its 2013 campaign as it sits at 3-5-2 overall heading into play this weekend. The Spartans three wins are already tied for the most wins in a single-season by the program since transitioning over to Division I in 2007. Offense has been a problem for USC Upstate this season as it ranks last in the A-Sun Conference with six goals scored in 2013. The Spartans do boast the returning A-Sun Conference Goalkeeper of the Year in senior Sarah Plantz, who leads the league averaging 5.5 saves per contest.

Last Time Out

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer women’s soccer team concluded its seven-game homestand with a 2-1 Atlantic Sun Conference loss to Lipscomb on Sept. 29 at Bear Field.

Mercer (6-5-1, 1-1-0 A-Sun) out-shot Lipscomb (4-5-2, 1-1-0 A-Sun) 17-9 overall and held an 8-3 advantage in corner kicks in a losing effort.

The Bears had a pair of chances to take the lead early in the second half when a header and a line drive shot by junior Washida Blackman both sailed just over the crossbar to keep things tied at 1-1.

The Bisons put the nail in the coffin late in the second stanza when freshman Ellen Lundy scored her second goal of the contest when she flicked a shot over a charging Maggie Cropp to make the final score 2-1.

Game Notes

– In the most recent national statistics release on Sept. 30, Mercer ranks in the top-30 in the country in assists per game (19th – 2.42), goals per game (28th – 2.42) and points per game (25th – 7.25)

– Individually, junior Brianna Stampler ranks 46th in the nation with her five assists while sophomore Maggie Cropp is 69th with 50 total saves.