Mercer Women’s Soccer Preps for Home Tilts with Western Carolina and Georgia Southern

MACON, Ga. (MERCER RELEASE) – The Mercer women’s soccer team is set for another pair of home games when it welcomes Western Carolina and Georgia Southern into town this weekend.

The Bears first take on Western Carolina on Friday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. before closing out the weekend against in-state rival Georgia Southern on Sunday, Sept. 22 at 6 p.m.

Scouting the Opposition

Western Carolina has had a strong start to its 2013 season, as it enters play on Friday evening with a 4-2-1 record. The Catamounts have already racked up a pair of results against Atlantic Sun Conference members this season after earning a 2-0 win over Lipscomb and a 1-1 tie against East Tennessee State. Western Carolina was picked to finish eighth in the Southern Conference Preseason Coaches’ poll after returning six starters from a team that posted a 7-10-2 record last season. Forward Kelly Pannell paces the Catamounts offense with 11 points on four goals and three assists.

Georgia Southern enters play this week with a 1-4 record after most recently playing to a 1-1draw against Charleston Southern on Sept. 15. The Eagles have already played two Atlantic Sun Conference members this season, dropping a 2-1 decision to Jacksonville and downing Stetson 2-1. The Bears have won four out of their last five contests against Georgia Southern dating back to 2007 and have only allowed two goals during that stretch. The Eagles are a young team that features 19 underclassmen, including freshman Jennifer Wittick who leads GSU with two goals in 2013.

Last Time Out

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer women’s soccer team used a flurry of second half scoring to come away with a 4-0 victory over Jacksonville State on Sunday afternoon at Bear Field. After a scoreless first half, the Bears notched four scores in less than a nine-minute span to put the game out of reach.

After a goal by freshman Katelyn Dimopoulos in the 57th minute of the game, the Bears tacked on three more goals over the next eight minutes and 48 seconds. Junior Tess Patton booked the Bears second tally on a free kick from 25 yards out in the 60th minute, junior Washida Blackman got on the board with a mid-air volley in the 63rd minute, and redshirt freshman Maddie Clark zipped a shot just inside the far post in the 65th minute.

Mercer’s backline defense and goalkeeper Maggie Cropp were dependable all night long, limiting the Gamecocks to just six shots in the win.

Game Notes

– Senior Casey Barrett tallied a goal and an assist in last weekend’s action for Mercer. The Dublin, Ohio native now ranks tied for fifth amongst all active players in the A-Sun Conference with 13 assists and sixth with 31 total points.