October 9, 2022
 
Mercer Blanks Furman Women's Soccer, 2-0
 
Greenville, S.C. – Jada Moorman netted her sixth goal of the season and Lindsay Bell stopped six shots to lead Mercer to a 2-0 victory over Furman in Southern Conference women's soccer action Sunday afternoon on Seagraves Field on Stone Stadium.
 
Mercer controlled the possession in the opening 25 minutes and broke the deadlock at the 23-minute mark. Kylie Buchanan launched a long throw-in to Nicole Icen at the edge of the box and she centered a pass to Moorman who finished into the left side of the net.
 
Ashlyn Goila, Hannah Farr and Nieva Gaither each forced Bell into first half saves. Gaither's effort in the 37^th minute appeared goal bound, but Bell leaped to deflect the shot off the cross bar.
 
"There are so many teams in this league that are fairly evenly matched that you have to be at the top of your game to get a result," said Paladin head coach Andrew Burr. "We just didn't create enough opportunities or finish the ones we had this afternoon."
 
Mercer doubled its lead in the 61^st minute. Moorman fired a shot past Furman goalkeeper Nora Sampson from the left side of the box that was cleared off the line by the Paladins' Cambelle Roberson but it caromed off another defender and into the net for an own goal.
 
Furman put three shots on goal in the final 30 minutes with Bell saving two shots and a Mercer defender clearing Julia Nicholas' 77^th minute attempt from danger.
 
The Bears (7-4-5, 2-1-3 SoCon) earned the victory despite both teams attempting 13 total shots and Furman owning a 7-6 edge in shots on goal. Bell garnered the victory, while Sampson recorded five saves for the Paladins in a losing effort.
 
Furman (7-6-1, 2-2-1 SoCon) hits the road next weekend to face UNC Greensboro on Friday evening in Greensboro, N.C., and VMI next Sunday afternoon in Lexington, Va.