Wednesday, August 31, 2011

• Mercer's 3-0 start to the season is the first in program history and best start since 1992 when the Bears opened with a 6-0-1 record. To go along with the 3-0 mark, Mercer has not allowed a goal in those three games by outscoring its opponents, 5-0. The Bears are one of ten teams in the nation with at least a 3-0 record that have yet to allow a goal this season.

• After two weeks of play, the A-Sun holds a .500 or better record against eight conferences. The A-Sun holds winning records against the Big South, Colonial, Big Sky and SWAC. Currently half of the conference is on an unbeaten streak (Mercer, Belmont, FGCU, ETSU and USC Upstate).

• Kennesaw State's Alyssa Mahan continues to lead the A-Sun in points as the senior forward added another assist in the 1-0 win against College of Charleston. The dime upped Mahan's season total to seven points as her three assists also is tops in the league. Mahan's teammate Katrina Frost is tied with Stetson's Alexis Hermosa for the conference lead with three goals.

• A-Sun goalkeeping has been outstanding early in the non-conference schedule as six keepers currently hold a Goal Against Average (GAA) lower than 1.00. Mercer's duo of Cristina Guilarte and Cagney Valloch lead the way with identical 0.00 GAA, while four other teams are represented on the list; Sarah Plantz (0.65; USC Upstate), Stephanie Powers (0.75; FGCU), Erin Zerio (0.95; Lipscomb) and Sarah Sierra (0.95; Jacksonville). Last season, three keepers held a GAA less than 1.00 throughout the year.

• FGCU's Powers, the reigning A-Sun Defensive Player of the Week, helped lowered her GAA over the weekend as she allowed only one goal in two matches. Against Charlotte, the senior stopped 12 shots - a career-high - en route to a 2-0 shutout. It marked the 20th career shutout for Powers, which moved her into a tie for eighth-most in A-Sun history.

• Jacksonville is the only team in the A-Sun not to play a home game yet this season. The Dolphins begin their home slate this week with matches against Furman and Georgia State at the Ashley Sports Complex, where they own a 10-1-4 record in the past 15 home games.

• Mercer's Nadja Kolliesuah, the A-Sun Player of the Week, gave the Bears a 1-0 victory against Georgia State with her game-winning goal in the 50th minute. The sophomore has scored three goals in her career with two being game winners including the deciding goal of the 2010 A-Sun Championship Final against Jacksonville.

• This weekend is loaded with home games for A-Sun teams with 11 total and only six true road games. USC Upstate and Stetson both partake in non-conference tournaments with the Spartans facing The Citadel and Charleston Southern in Charleston, S.C., while the Hatters travel to West Point, N.Y. for the Black Knight Classic against Army and Colgate.

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