JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State soccer team closed out the non-conference portion of the schedule with a 3-0 setback to Mercer on Sunday evening at the JSU Soccer Field.
The Gamecocks will enter Ohio Valley Conference play with a 3-5 overall mark. The Bears improved to 6-1 on the season and won their fifth consecutive match.
The Bears took advantage of a few early miscues by the Gamecocks to post two of their three goals in the opening 45 minutes within a six-minute span. MU's Madeline Alhamra recorded both goals within that time frame. Amaya Evans tacked on the final goal of the contest just before the halftime break. The Bears had 10 of their 14 shots in the first half. JSU limited MU to just four looks in the second half.
"Individual errors cost us in the first half and it was a poor start to the game," said head coach
Neil Macdonald. "I'll give our team a lot of credit for a brilliant second half performance. We created a lot of good chances to get back in the game. I know we had three or four 1v1 situations with the keeper and we hit the crossbar twice, so we know it is there."
JSU collected 11 total shots on the night and had a plus-two advantage in shots over the Bears. The Gamecocks had six in the second half, led by freshman
Cynthia Bagozzi and sophomore
Cephana Deane. Both Bagozzi and Deane finished with three shots each. All three of Deane's were on goal opportunities. Senior
Cheyenne Carden had a pair on looks at the goal.
With limited number of available players, Macdonald is hopeful that a few could return for the start of OVC play.
"We are hopeful to get three or four back with us this week and get them some training sessions under their belts," added Macdonald.
JSU will close out its homestand next weekend, hosting Eastern Kentucky in the OVC opener on Friday, September 20. Match time is set for 7 p.m. Admission is free to all home JSU soccer matches. The weekend will wrap up on Sunday against Morehead State at 1 p.m.
Both contests will be streamed on ESPN+, the online streaming platform of ESPN.
