Mercer's Dylan Gaither
Mercer Athletics
Mercer's Dylan Gaither

Men's Soccer

Mercer men's soccer shuts out Georgia Southern

The Bears won 3-0 with goals from Dylan Gaither, Dawson Gideon and Trevor Martineau


The Bears dominated the possession game, outshouting the Eagles 23-3, including 8-1 in shots on goal. Mercer also led in corner kicks, 5-2. The home team showcased a balanced attack throughout the match as six different players recorded a point.

Dylan Gaither, Dawson Gidieon and Trevor Martineau all found the back of the net, while Ricardo Packer Jr., Kareve Richards and Andrew Anyafo dished out assists. On the other end of the pitch, JR DeRose and the Bears defense tallied the first clean sheet of the season with the keeper needing to make one save.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Gaither wasted no time putting the Bears in the lead as he played a quick free kick from just outside the box 1:45 into the contest. The shot stunned the GSU defense that was still getting into position as the ball curled inside the right post to give Mercer an early advantage. 

Despite generating numerous chances throughout the remaining 43:15 of the first half, the home team carried a one-goal lead into halftime. After the intermission, Mercer was back on the attack as Gideon added an insurance tally in the 51st minute. After the ball was played behind the Georgia Southern defense by Kevin Kim, Packer Jr. danced around his defender on the right side of the box before slotting a pass to Gideon for the tap in.

The Bears went back to work in the 64th minute as a give-and-go between Richards and Anyafo drew the attention of the Eagles' defense to the right side of the box. Martineau, the active NCAA Division I goal leader, was waiting on the other side of the box and buried his second goal in as many games.

The Mercer defense was stifling throughout the entire contest, but denied any potential threats GSU posed by not allowing a shot in the final 48:22 of the match.
 
NOTABLES
  • Mercer has won each of its last four matches against Georgia Southern.
  • The Bears had six different players record a point in the same match for the first time since a 4-1 win over VMI on Nov. 2 last season.
  • Martineau scored his 25th career goal, breaking a tie with Georgia State's Aris Briggs to become the active goals leader in Division I.
  • The Montreal, Quebec native now has 67 career points, tying for sixth in Mercer history with Ramiro Canovas.
  • Gaither has scored the first goal against Georgia Southern in both of the last two meetings.
  • Gaither recorded the first game-winning goal of his career.
  • Gideon netted his first goal of the season and sixth in his career.
  • Anyafo collected his first assist of the season and second in his career.
  • Packer Jr. documented his third career assist.
  • Richards posted his first assist of the year and fourth in his career.
  • DeRose recorded his 13th career shutout tonight.
 
UP NEXT
The Bears will have two weeks off before their first road match of the season on Oct. 6 in a rematch against Georgia State. The match is slated to begin at 7 p.m.