Fall Sports Overview

Men’s Soccer

 

In another overtime game, the Mercer Men’s Soccer Team came out victorious against the Wofford Terriers 3-2.

In the exciting Tuesday night matchup, the Terriers scored first, making the score 1-0 in the 27th minute. The Bears did not answer until 40 minutes later, when Will Bagrou found the back of the net. Four minutes later, the Terriers fired back, making the score 2-1. The Bears did not lose hope, as Jordan Duru scored 20 yards from the goal with a score of 2-2.

After a full 90 minutes of play, the Bears finished off the Terriers with another goal by Bagrou.

Later in the week, the Bears overwhelmed the Virginia Military Institute Keydets 3-0.

The only player who scored throughout the matchup was Bagrou, giving him his first hat trick of the year. Mercer completely outshot the Keydets 21-5 in the win.

Greg Ranjitsingh, goalkeeper for the Bears, registered a total of five saves, with a number of the saves late in the second half.

In a midweek game in Greenville, S.C., the Bears took on the Furman University Paladins and were defeated 2-1.

In the 15th minute of the game, the Bears were up 1-0 after an own goal by the Paladins. Th remainder of the first half remained scoreless. The Paladins were determined to make up their own goal and scored in the 53rd minute, making the score 1-1. While the Bears were tough defensively, they could not stop the Paladins from scoring again off of a penalty kick in the 83rd minute. The Paladins overpowered the Bears offensively, outshooting them 12-5.

Even though they received the loss, the Bears still remained first in the Southern Conference for the conclusion of their regular season.

In their last Southern Conference game of the season, the Bears defeated the Buccaneers of East Tennessee State University 1-0. This win placed the Bears first for the conference tournament and crowned them the regular season champions.

Early in the first half, Ashani Samuels found the back of the net, making the score 1-0. The Bucs could not overcome the Bears defense, while goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh registered six saves and his ninth shutout for the season.

By taking first place in the Southern Conference, the Bears receive a bye for their first game and they will play Nov. 13 against the winner between the four and five seeds.

 

Women’s Soccer

 

On their final road trip of the season, the Bears first traveled to Chattanooga, Tenn., to take on the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Mocs. In the contest, the Bears drastically overwhelmed the Mocs with a score of 8-1, and Mercer regained the number one spot in the conference.

The Bears outshot the Mocs 26-10 while six different players scored for the Bears throughout the game. These players included Washida Blackman, Sydney Brogden, Brianna Stampler, Lauren Gassie and Kim Murphy. Both Gassie and Murphy registered two goals in the second half.

Maggie Cropp and Cristina Mursuli, goalkeepers for the Bears, only allowed one goal and combined for two saves in the contest.

To remain in number one place and be crowned regular season champions, the Bears had to defeat the Samford University Bulldogs in their last Southern Conference game of the season. The Bears were unable to do so and were defeated by the Bulldogs 1-0.

The only goal in the game was scored before the fifth minute in the first half. Although the Bears outshot the Bulldogs 11-7, Mercer could not find the back of the net throughout the contest.

With the win, the Bulldogs took first place in the conference, attaining the regular season championship, while the Bears took third place overall.

In the opening game of the Southern Conference tournament, the Bears defeated the Catamounts of Western Carolina 2-1.

The first half of the game remained scoreless, but Sarah Daane managed to find the back of the net in the 64th minute. The Catamounts answered back less than two minutes later to tie the game. With only eight minutes left in regulation play, Lauren Gassie headed it into the goal, giving the Bears their first win of the tournament.

 

Volleyball

 

In their second Southern Conference win of the season, the Mercer Women’s Volleyball Team defeated the Wofford Terriers 3-2 (26-24, 18-25, 25-19, 23-25, 15-8).

In the midweek win, three Bears recorded double doubles: Hannah Noon, Cara Tripp and Molly Locke. Noon dished out 45 assists with 11 digs while Tripp tallied 10 kills and 10 blocks in the win. Noon also had four kills, five block assists and two service aces.

In her 12th double double of the season, Locke tallied 14 kills and 10 digs. Tori Penrod, sophomore Libero for the Bears, collected 24 digs in the five-set match.

Starting their weekend, the Bears hosted the Furman University Paladins in Hawkins Arena on Friday, Oct. 24. Although the Bears were able to take a set from the Paladins, they were unable to come out victorious, falling 3-1 (25-18, 23-25, 25-16, 25-6).

In the match, Emily Krogman, freshman right side for the Bears, collected 14 kills and came out with an impressive .500 hitting percentage. Caroline Carlton also tallied double digit kills with 11 in the loss.

Finishing up their weekend, the Bears defeated the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Mocs 3-2 (25-16, 21-15, 25-27, 25-23, 15-12).

In the five-set thriller, sophomore Jordan Gollon shined for the Bears. She collected 14 kills out of 24 attacks with only one error. Gollon’s hitting percentage, .542, is the best of her career thus far. The middle blocker also had five blocks, two digs and an assist in the winning effort.

Locke collected her 13th double double of the season with 16 kills and 27 digs. Carlton also registered double digit kills, tallying a total of 12. She also had six blocks, four digs and an assist.

In a midweek game, the Bears traveled to Savannah, Ga., to take on the Savannah State University Tigers. In the second meeting of the two teams, the Bears came out victorious once again, 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-18).

Leading the Bears, Carlton tallied 14 kills with only three errors. Locke was just shy of her 14th double double with 13 kills and nine digs.

Defensively, Tori Penrod and Bailey Noon led the Bears with 11 digs each.

To open up homecoming weekend, the Bears defeated the Keydets of The Citadel 3-1 (25-19, 25-7, 17-25, 25-21).

Penrod led for the Bears with a total of 10 service aces and 14 digs, which was her second double double of the season. Locke also registered a double double with 17 kills and 14 digs.

On Saturday’s match, the Bears defeated the Samford University Bulldogs in a five-set thriller (25-22, 31-29, 20-25, 8-25, 15-13). Before the Bears’ win, the Bulldogs were 10-1 and first in the Southern Conference.

Carlton led for the Bears with 13 kills, which is the fifth time this season that she has gotten double digit kills. Cara Tripp was right behind her with 12 kills and also added five blocks. Defensively, Penrod led the Bears with 19 digs in the five-set thriller.

Mercer won the fifth set 15-13, and Bears fans went crazy by storming the court following game point.

 

Men’s Golf

 

In its last tournament of the fall season, the Mercer Men’s Golf Team finished fifth out of 13 teams in the Bridgestone Golf Collegiate in Greensboro, N.C. The Bears finished with a total score of 878 for the tournament and with a team score of 293 in the final round.

In the fifth place finish, sophomore Emmanuel Kountakis and senior Trey Rule tied for 10th with a total score of 216. The next best finish for the Bears was 35th for Jerry Ren with a total score of 224.

The Bears will begin their competitive spring season in February.

 

Women’s Golf

 

The Mercer Women’s Golf Team finished their fall season with an 11th place finish out of 13 teams at the Old Waverly Bulldog Invitational in Starkville, Miss. The Bears tallied a total score of 924, which was 66 points shy of the first place finish.

Finishing in 11th place, Katy Harris collected a total score of 220 in the three-day tournament. Sophomore Marin Harris finished next best for the Bears with a total score of 229, taking 39th place.