Friday, November 04, 2011

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Senior Ali Meek’s goal in the 96th minute of overtime broke a scoreless tie and sent sixth-seeded Mercer past second-seeded ETSU, 1-0, and into Sunday’s 2011 Atlantic Sun Women's Soccer Championship Final at the FGCU Soccer Complex.

Set up by an ETSU turnover outside its own penalty area, Meek’s goal was her first of the season, as she beat Bucs keeper Caitlin Gaughan, who made seven saves, with a shot off the right post and into the net.

The defending A-Sun Tournament Champion Bears (10-7-2) will make their fourth title game appearance in the last five years on Sunday at 1 p.m. against the winner of top-seeded FGCU and fifth-seeded North Florida. Mercer is also the first-ever No. 6 seed to advance to the A-Sun title game. ETSU, who finished in a three-way tie for the A-Sun regular season title, finishes the season with a 12-5-1 overall record.

Fueled by an organized defensive until that limited the league’s top offensive team to just four shots over the 96 minutes, Mercer supplied a ton of pressure throughout regulation, putting six of their 14 shots on goal.

Sunday’s championship game can be seen live on A-Sun TV for free.

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