Sunday, August 30, 2009

ATHENS, GA - Mercer led No. 16 Georgia the majority of the second half and left Athens with a 1-1 tie after play was called due to a lightning strike in the 81st minute of play. The teams could not get the game resumed after the allotted waiting period.

The Bears (1-1-1) matched Georgia (2-0-1) throughout contest taking a 1-0 lead five minutes into the second half. Sophomore Olivia Tucker took a pass from fellow sophomore Emerald Phillips and put it past Georgia goalkeeper Michelle Betos for her first score of the season. It was the first goal given up by the Bulldogs in three games this year and the first in Georgia’s last five contests against Mercer.

“I have mixed emotions,” said Mercer head coach Grant Serafy. “We drew with the No. 16 team in the country on the road. We had a 1-0 lead with 13 minutes left and should have held on to it.”

Georgia scored the tying goal off a set piece opportunity. Kelly Cortes’ free kick sailed just over a Mercer defender and Jaime Pollock’s header slipped past Mercer goalkeeper, senior, Jean Worts.

The teams were virtually dead even in shots with Georgia holding an 8-7 advantage, but Mercer posted more shots on goal, 3-2. They also managed three corner kicks to Georgia’s one. The Bears’ defense throttled a Georgia attack that had scored eight goals and delivered 15 shots on goal in two previous games.