Date Posted: 9/14/2008

MACON, Ga. - In Atlantic Sun's Men's Soccer Game of the Week featuring two Peach State residents and former conference foes, it was Georgia State who came away with a 2-1 victory against Mercer at Bear Field on Sunday in the final match of the 2008 Wingate by Wyndham Classic.

The Bears (0-3-2) came into Sunday's match hoping to grab their first win of the season at the hands of long-time rival Georgia State, against whom the Bears now hold a 13-32-3 record in a series that dates back to 1972. The two schools competed as members of the Atlantic Sun Conference from 1983 to 2005, but the rivalry has been dormant for the past three seasons.

Mercer's bid for a win was marred early in the first half of a scoreless tie when Richie Wimsatt's open-net opportunity in the 21st minute clanged off the right post. Wimsatt took a great delivery from Philip Thoren, who beat a Panther defender in a one versus one battle in the left corner to set up Wimsatt for the five-yarder.

"We had a great chance in the first half," head coach Brad Ruzzo said. "If we score that it is 1-0 and I think the game would have been totally different."

Taking advantage of Mercer's missed opportunity, the Panthers (3-2-0) drew first blood less than 10 minutes into the second period. Following a Georgia State corner kick, Francesco Barbera won the second ball when he pounded a header into the upper left corner of the frame from four yards out.

Related Links:
 • Full Article at MercerBears.com