Macon, Ga. – Ricardo Packer, Jr. scored in the 94
th minute as Mercer edged Furman men's soccer, 4-3, in overtime Saturday night at Betts Stadium in Macon, Ga.
The Bears (9-5-0, 1-2-0 SoCon) rallied from a 2-0 first half deficit with three straight goals and handed Furman (9-6-1, 3-1-0 SoCon) its first league loss when Packer answered McLagan's late equalizer with a match-winning score just 3:51 into overtime.
Furman jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first half. Senior
Rocky Guerra curled in a free kick in the 22
nd minute and netted his fourth goal in three matches with a 37
th minute tally on an assist from
Arnor Adalsteinsson. The Paladins appeared to be headed to intermission with a two-goal lead, but Mercer was awarded a penalty kick when Furman was whistled for a foul on the edge of the box at 42:19. Dawson Gideon finished from the spot to trim the margin to 2-1.
Just 65 seconds into the second half, Gideon pounced on a rebound in the box after Furman's
Max Fisher stopped the initial Mercer shot and fired into the empty net to even the match at 2-2. The Bears took a 3-2 lead at the 66-minute mark when Bryant Jackson sprung Packer free down the right side of the box and the forward slotted a shot past Fisher.
Furman equalized at the 81:01 mark.
Cole McLagan curled a free kick through traffic that trickled inside the right post for his seventh goal of the season and fifth off of a set piece. The Paladins looked like they might have a chance to steal the points in the opening moments of overtime when
Shaun-Chris Joash made a run into the box and was shoved down from behind, but play was waved on.
In the 94
th minute, Liam Coxhead found Packer on the left side of the box and he slipped a shot past Fisher from a tight angle for the match-winning score.
Mercer finished with a 16-13 advantage in total shots and 10-9 edge in shots on goal. DeRose made six saves for the Bears to earn the win, while Fisher stopped six shots in goal for the Paladins.
Furman returns to action on Tuesday evening when it visits Spartanburg, S.C., to face Wofford. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
