MACON, Ga. – Ally Fordham’s second half goal put the Bears on the board, but Mercer was unable to equalize, falling to UAB, 2-1, in its fall finale.   

The Blazers (1-0-0) attempted five shots to Mercer’s two before they put one in the back of the net in the 20^th minute, forcing the Bears to play from behind on senior night.
 
Undeterred, the Mercer backline was steady, and the offense began to come to life as the clock counted down the minutes in the first half. Cami Brown forced UAB’s Anika Toth to make a save in the 34^th minute, while Brie Pavol took back-to-back shots in the final minute of the half.  

Mercer (1-4-1) surrendered a second goal less than two minutes into the second half, but the momentum quickly shifted in favor of the Bears from that point forward.  

Madi Johnson’s shot on goal in the 55^th minute was stopped, but Jordan Lynn and Payton Schurr quickly followed with tries of their own as fireworks lit the night sky in Betts Stadium.  

A UAB foul in the 64^th minute proved to be what Mercer needed to get on scoreboard. Elizabeth Hargis attempted the free kick, sending it to Abigail Zoeller in the box, who flicked the ball to Fordham. Fordham headed the ball over the head of Sarah Francis Adair to make it a 2-1 contest.  

In the final 26 minutes the Bears controlled the tempo, taking seven shots with three being on target. Kendall Cook had a chance at the equalizer in the 73^rd minute, forcing Adair to make a diving stop, while Aliah Kitchens and Zoeller placed shots on the net late in the evening.  A corner kick with just 34 ticks of the clock remaining sailed past the edge of the box, and UAB escaped with a 2-1 win in its season opener.  

Mercer outshot its foe from Birmingham, 17-12, including 12-4 in the second half. The Bears had a 6-5 advantage in corner kicks.  

Payton Jamieson started the match in goal and made three saves. Jordyn Ebert played the duration of the second half and was credited with two stops.  

NOTABLES 

• Prior to the match, Tony Economopoulos and his staff honored the team’s 11 seniors.  
• Lily Stauble, Rhette Cauilan and Jamieson, a trio of seniors, each earned the starting nod for the first time this season.  
• The Bears took 17 shots, tying a season-high which was originally set against The Citadel in September. 
• Mercer attempted six corners. In each of its six fall matches the team took more corners kicks than its opponent.  
• Fordham joined Kitchens as the second Bear to score two goals this fall.   
• Zoeller’s first assist of the season puts her two away from the programs’ all-time record.  

UP NEXT
The Bears ended the fall portion of the season with a 1-4-1 record. Mercer’s spring slate will be announced at a later date.