Friday, August 29, 2008

MACON, Ga. - Mercer University battles Southern Conference foe Davidson University on Friday, August 29 in this week's A-Sun Women's Soccer Match of the Week. Slated at No. 2 in their preseason polls, the Bears and the Wildcats compete in the LQ Cup hosted by Mercer.

With the return of 19 letterwinners, including nine starters from last year's 14-5-1 squad, Davidson was picked to finish second in the Southern Conference. The Wildcats are coming off another strong season that saw them tie the school record for wins in a single season with 14 and finish second in regular-season league play with an 8-1-1 record. Last year also saw them win the College of Charleston tournament title with the program's first wins over Vanderbilt and LSU.

Davidson comes into the match as the No. 9-ranked team in the NSCAA/adidas Southeast Regional poll. The Wildcats (1-0-0) bested Virginia Tech, 2-1, in their season-opening match last weekend. While Mercer holds a 4-1 edge in the all-time series, Davidson took the last meeting between the two teams': a 3-1 victory at Davidson on Sept. 16, 2007.

Mercer returns 18 letterwinners, including eight starters from last year's 11-7-2 team. With 10 pairs of fresh legs, coaches tabbed the Orange and Black to finish second in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

The Bears are eager to get back onto their home field after enjoying a historic season in 2007. The Orange and Black shattered the team record for conference victories, winning nine matches against Atlantic Sun foes. The team also tied a program record for overall wins in a season with 11, and won their first ever A-Sun tournament game: a dramatic semifinal penalty shootout victory over Belmont in the semifinals.

From what Coach Grant Serafy has seen thus far in practice and exhibition games, he feels players have what it takes to continue the program's steady climb up the A-Sun ladder.

Mercer fell to nationally-ranked SEC powerhouse Georgia in Athens, 2-0, to open their 2008 regular season, but are unbeaten in six of their last seven home matches stretching back into last year, including a 1-0-1 record in two home exhibition matches earlier this month.

The 2008 LQ Cup tournament kicks off with a meeting between Kennesaw State and Jackson State at 4 p.m. on Friday, followed by the Mercer-Davidson clash at 7 p.m. Following a day off, tournament action returns on Sunday afternoon, with Kennesaw State meeting Davidson at 12:30 p.m. The Bears wrap up the tournament against Jackson State at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life, with a focus on academic and athletic integrity and a balance between the two for the student-athlete, and maintaining a high level of sportsmanship. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun encompasses six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun consists of some of the most dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.