MACON, Ga. – Maddie Clark netted her third straight game-winning goal as the Mercer women’s soccer team cruised past South Carolina State, 5-0, on Wednesday night.

A total of four Bears scored goals and the Mercer defense tallied its third consecutive shutout to notch a win in Mercer’s final nonconference match of the season.

Clark led Mercer with the first two goals of the night, scoring both in a 10-minute period early in the second half. Once the Bears’ offense got started, it was nearly unstoppable. Valeria Bermeo, Karina Castillo and Caroline Smith each added goals for the Bears.

After a scoreless first half, Clark came out strong in the second half and scored her first goal less than 8 minutes into the period, giving Mercer the 1-0 advantage. Emma Musson served the ball in to Clark from the left side and Clark knocked it in from 5 yards out. The redshirt senior added a second goal in the 63rd minute after receiving a long pass up the middle from Haley McDuffee, bringing Mercer’s advantage to 2-0.

Bermeo followed suit quickly, scoring in the 66th minute after dribbling down the right side and taking a shot at an open net to make it 3-0. Smith was the next Mercer player to notch a goal, sending a header to the right side off a serve from Annie Barrett in the 79th minute. Karina Castillo wrapped up Mercer’s scoring in the 88th minute, taking a shot from just 5 yards out to bring the score to 5-0 for the Bears.

Clark scored her 10th and 11th goals of the season as well as her fifth game-winning goal of the year. The redshirt senior is now tied for first place on Mercer’s single-season and career (12) game-winning goals leaderboards.

Cristina Mursuli made one save in goal, while Leah Cochran tallied two saves. The Mercer defense recorded its sixth shutout of the year.

Mercer will host VMI on Friday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. at Bear Field. Prior to the start of the match, Mercer will recognize its nine seniors in a Senior Day ceremony.