As most Mercerians begin to settle in for the beginning of another semester, Mercer’s men and women’s soccer teams have already been on campus for quite some time as they get prepared for the beginning of their seasons. With a load of returning talent on both squads, the Bears seem poised for success.
The Lady Bears soccer team completed a historic season last year as they became the first Mercer women’s soccer team to advance into the NCAA tournament after taking first place in the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament. The Bears appear ready to build upon that success as they look to once again win their conference tournament and finish first in the conference during regular season play.
“We have many talented incoming freshmen that are playing well, as well as a strong core of returning players. I think this team is talented enough to accomplish these lofty goals, but it will be a fight each and every game for them to become a reality”, stated returning Lady Bears senior Vanessa Breslin.
The Lady Bears will indeed have to work hard for their results this year as they have a very difficult non-conference schedule that includes the likes of Georgia, Florida State, and Georgia State. However, these matchups will likely benefit the Lady Bears since it gives them the opportunity to play against some very high-quality opponents before conference play begins.
Also, the Lady Bears have looked good so far this preseason as they competed in their first exhibition match Aug. 13 against the College of Charleston. The match resulted in 2-2 tie as they displayed excellent buildup toward the end of the match. The exhibition also allowed several of the Lady Bears’ talented freshmen to gain some valuable match experience.
The Lady Bears kick off their season with a home game on Aug. 19 against Jacksonville State before traveling to States.