Macon Ga.—The Mercer Bears (3-2-4 overall, 0-0-0 SoCon) and North Florida Ospreys (1-6-1, 0-0-2 ASUN) battled to a 2-2 in a non-conference match-up Saturday night at Betts Stadium.  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Spectators hadn't yet settled in their seats with their pregame popcorn before the Ospreys took the lead. Burka Bendeguz took a shot from the top of the 18 that fooled Mercer goalkeeper Trevor McMullen and gave North Florida a 1-0 lead with assists going to Bryson Smith and Braden Masker.
The Bears' leading scorer Dylan Gaither got his fourth goal of the season. Gaither, who had taken three corner kicks earlier in the half, gave way to Ousman Jabang on a corner from the left wing. He got the ball to Gaither, who's right-footed blast eluded Osprey goalkeeper Micah Gun to tie the game with just under five minutes left in the half. It was the first goal Gun has surrendered this season, after posting a shutout his last game.
Mercer scored its second goal of the game, also off a corner kick. Kevin Kim launched one from the left corner, clear across the Ospreys' goal and from the corner of the six-yard box, Sekou Agard out jumped everyone to head in his first goal of the season.
In the 62^nd minute, the Ospreys got even as the ball bounced and caromed wildly in front of the Mercer goal. Joaquin Acuna of North Florida, finally got his foot on the ball and it pinballed just over the goal line. Dean Walker and Rio Onwumere assisted on the tying goal.

NOTABLES

• Mercer has more ties (4) than wins (3) or losses (2).
• After six straight losses, North Florida has a win and tie in its last two games
• Mercer was issued five cautions in the match; North Florida two
• The Bears not only scored on two corners, they had a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks

 
UP NEXT
The Bears will play their fifth game of a seven-game home stand, hosting Georgia Southern on Tuesday Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. North Florida is off until Saturday Oct. 1 playing Queens in Charlotte, N.C.