No. 10 Florida 3, Mercer 0

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Mercer women’s soccer team dropped a close 3-0 decision to No. 10 Florida on Sunday afternoon at Donald R. Dizney Stadium. The Bears finish the 2014 season with a 14-6-2 record after setting a new program record with single-season wins and winning their first Southern Conference championship.

Mercer’s trip to the NCAA tournament was the second in program history. Additionally, Mercer’s senior class departs with a record of 46-29-8, notching the most wins in a four-year span in Mercer history.

Florida scored its first goal in the 19th minute when Lauren Smith found Annie Speese 12 yards out on the right side. The Bears held the Gators at 1-0 for the rest of the first half as well as most of the second half.

UF’s second goal came in the 82nd minute, when Pamela Begič found Savannah Jordan on the right side and Jordan sent the ball in from 15 yards out. Jordan added a third goal for Florida with just 26 seconds left on the clock when she sent one in from 10 yards out on the left.

The Mercer defense came up big a couple of times, including in the 81st minute when Florida was awarded a free kick at the top of the box and the Bears blocked the shot.

Florida outshot Mercer, 16-3, and won the corner kick battle, 6-3. In goal, Maggie Cropp made two saves for Mercer. The Bears’ defense did a good job of keeping pressure off Cropp for most of the game, helping to stop several Florida shots from being on goal.