November 11, 2011

Bears Come up Short in 2-1 Loss to FGCU in Semi-Finals

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Despite a furious rally late in the second half, the Mercer men's soccer team dropped a heartbreaking 2-1 decision to Florida Gulf Coast in the semi-finals of the 2011 Atlantic Sun Championship on Friday evening at Summers-Taylor Stadium.  

 

Mercer (9-8-3) had a chance to tie the game with one second left on the clock, but junior Joey Heavner's last second bending shot was tipped just over the bar by Eagles keeper Nathan Ingham to preserve the win for FGCU (11-5-2).

 

FGCU out-shot Mercer 12-11, but the Bears held a 7-6 advantage in shots on goal and a 7-5 edge in corner kicks.

 

The Bears had a good chance early on when freshman Carl-Oscar Anderson played a through ball that junior Richie Edmondson raced onto shot into a charging Ingham to keep the game scoreless in the sixth minute of play.

 

Mercer covered a lengthy FGCU attacking threat and pushed back the other way to generate another quality chance in the 13^th minute. Edmondson sent in a service that deflected to Heavner who settled the ball and fired in a shot that was tipped over the bar yet again by Ingham.

 

Things stayed scoreless as both team played a back-and-forth style until the Eagles put home the first goal of the match off a set piece in the 38^th minute of play. A FGCU corner kick was headed back across the box by freshman Xavier Silva right to senior Cristian Raudales who headed it past freshman Greg Ranjitsingh to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.

 

FGCU nearly scored again early in the second half when Silva moved onto a ball in the Mercer box and tripped to slip a low shot past Ranjitsingh that rolled just wide of net, keeping the score 1-0 in favor of the Eagles.

 

The Eagles doubled their lead and essentially put the game out of reach in the 59^th minute of play. Silva headed home a crossing pass from freshman Frederico Crespo past Ranjitsingh to give FGCU a 2-0 advantage.

 

Mercer didn't give up, however, and pulled within one in the 65^th minute of play thanks to a pair of newcomers. Freshman Ashani Samuels fired a shot on goal that was saved by Ingham, but the rebound went right to sophomore Ehjayson Henry who pushed it into the back of the net to make the score 2-1 in favor of the Eagles.

 

The Bears nearly pulled even in the 72^nd minute when junior Will Betts volleyed a cross out of the air just over the bar to end the threat.

 

The Orange and Black kept pressing forward and almost scored another goal when Henry ran onto a long ball and tried to poke a ball underneath Ingham, but the attempt rolled just wide of the near post.

 

Unfortunately, despite the fact that Mercer dominated possession and the run of play over the latter stages of the second half it wouldn't be enough as FGCU held on for the win.

 

For seniors Ryan Young and Phil Thoren, Friday night's match is the final game of their four-year careers in the Orange and Black.