Greenville, S.C. – Senior
Addison Corn recorded seven saves, including a pair of stops in the final two minutes, to lead Furman to a 2-1 victory over Mercer on Senior Day Sunday afternoon in Southern Conference women's soccer action at Stone Stadium.
With the victory, Furman improved to 7-4-5 overall and 3-1-4 in league play. The Paladins capped their regular season home schedule undefeated at Stone Stadium with a 4-0-3 record. Mercer dropped to 8-5-5 overall and 3-4-1 in SoCon play.
"It's great to get the win on Senior Day and finish undefeated at home," said Paladin head coach
Andrew Burr. "So many players contributed for us today, especially from our senior class.
Addison Corn came up with some big saves for us."
After a scoreless first half in which Mercer dominated possession and posted a 9-2 margin in shot attempts, Furman grabbed the lead from the penalty spot in the 58
th minute. The Bears were whistled for a handball on a cross into the left side of the box and junior
Valentina Mosquera slotted home her spot kick for her team-leading sixth goal of the season.
In the 77
th minute,
Maddie Massie played a pass back to
Ellie Herrmann along the sideline and the sophomore lofted a cross to junior
Madison Luckett on the far side of the box. Luckett settled the ball and rocketed a shot into the left side netting at 76:33 to double the Furman advantage and claim her second goal of the campaign.
A foul in the box by the Paladins at the 87:04 mark gave Mercer life as Maria Karipidis stepped to the penalty spot and scored to trim the margin to 2-1. Furman, however, held onto its lead as Corn punched Karipidis' goal-bound shot over the bar with 1:45 left and made a diving stop on Anna Bachman's blast towards the left-hand corner less than a minute later.
Corn, who was honored along with
Camryn Bolick,
Hannah Farr,
Nieva Gaither,
Maggie Miller, and
Miya Poplin in pregame Senior Day festivities, turned away seven shots in total to improve to 7-4-5 in goal this season. Lindsay Bell notched five saves in a losing effort for the Bears.
Mercer finished the match with a 20-12 margin in total shot attempts and an 8-7 edge in shots on goal. The Bears earned 10 corner kicks to just two for the Paladins.
Furman, now holding a share of fourth place in the SoCon standings, concludes the regular season next Sunday afternoon, October 22, when it takes on the Wofford Terriers at Snyder Field in Spartanburg, S.C.
