MACON, Ga. – The Mercer Bears controlled the possession for more than 60 percent of the match, but the Georgia Southern Eagles converted a penalty kick in the 83^rd minute to defeat the Bears, 1-0.

Mercer held a 21-10 advantage in shots and consistently generated chances throughout the contest, but the lone goal was all that the Eagles needed to secure the victory.

"We were able to apply pressure in the first half but couldn't finish," said head coach Tony Economopoulos. "I challenged our front line to do a better job of finishing opportunities. The difference tonight was that we created in the final third but couldn't put one in. We were not composed in those dangerous areas and were not clinical enough. Credit Georgia Southern. Our team has potential and a high ceiling. I am challenging them to be confident and click for 90 minutes while being clinical in the box. If we can do that, we'll win a lot of matches. We have to be composed and play with urgency every night."

The Bears generated opportunities quickly with six shots in the first 16 minutes, including back-to-back attempts on target in the fifth and sixth minutes, respectively. Mercer's last of those six attempts came from Pace Stephenson, and sje nearly hooked the ball inside the upper 90, but her try landed just wide of the net.

Georgia Southern almost scored in the 22^nd minute, but Jordyn Ebert stopped a header off a corner to keep the match scoreless. The graduate student from Suwanee, Ga., made her second and final stop of the opening half with 13 minutes remaining until the intermission.

Mercer came close to taking the lead at the 42-minute when Kylie Buchanan sent a free kick from midfield into the box and found Payton Schurr near the penalty spot. Schurr forced GSU's Michaela English to make a diving stop and flick the ball outside the right post. The two teams headed to the break with the match scoreless.

Early in the second half, Ebert was forced to make a crucial save when Ellis Nemtsov took her 1-on-1 in the box. Nemtsov collected the ball just inside the 18 and sent it towards the bottom center portion of the net, but Ebert made goalkeeping duties look easy, sliding to deflect the ball away from her territory.

The Bears put a pair of shots on goal after the hour mark, but Georgia Southern used a late goal to its advantage. After a foul on the edge of the box, the referee awarded the Eagles a penalty kick, and Montoya managed to sneak the ball inside the right post under a diving Ebert. Montoya's PK gave Georgia Southern the 1-0 victory.

Mercer held a large advantage in shots, 21-10. Ally Fordham led the Bears with six shots while Schurr took four and Aliah Kitchens had three. Ebert made five saves, and her counterpart, English, had eight stops.

Notables

• Fordham led the way for the Bears with six shots.
• Fordham and Schurr combined to put four attempts on frame.
• Ebert has made five saves in back-to-back matches. She is 17 stops away from 400 career saves.
• Mercer has outshot its opponent in four of six matches.

Up Next
The Bears will conclude non-conference play next Sunday when they host Jackson State at 2 p.m.

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