Box Score

MACON, Ga. - Western Carolina women's soccer dropped a 1-0 decision at Mercer Sunday at Bear Field.

The Catamounts fall to 6-5-4 and 3-2-1 in the Southern Conference. Mercer maintains first place in the SoCon with a 3-0-2 record and 9-4-2 overall.

The Bear's victory keeps them unbeaten at home. WCU was shutout for the first time since September 5 when it lost 1-0 in double overtime to Lipscomb.

In an evenly matched game it was almost a given that one goal might be the only one needed. It was the Bears that found the back of the net in the first half and the Catamounts played catch up the rest of the game.

At 40:43 in the first half, Mercer got on the scoreboard when Washida Blackman took a long pass from Rachel Buffalo, beating two defenders, to send a shot to the top right of the goal for the score.

Mercer pressed early in the game and Western Carolina didn't take its first shot until 17:51 on the clock when junior Kelly Pannell took a shot that was wide. The Catamounts first shot on goal was by Markie-Lynn Studnicky but it was saved by Mercer goal keeper Maggie Cropp. WCU proceeded to take three straight corner kicks but couldn't get anything going from the set pieces.

Taylor Webb had a nice look at the goal for Western Carolina to close out the first half with a header shot that was saved.

Western Carolina had a huge chance to tie it up in the second half, at 56:25 when Mercer was called for a hand ball. Pannell took the shot but it went high above the goal. Later in the second half, 81:26, senior Mackenzie Cole had a great look but her shot hit the crossbar.

The Catamounts never gave up fighting for a goal until the bitter end. WCU took the final two shots of the game - a shot on goal by Studnicky that was saved and a shot that went wide by Morgan Figliola.

In the end Mercer and Western Carolina played a hotly contested game with the Bears taking 11 shots and Western Carolina having 11.

Western Carolina returns home to host its final three games of the season in a three-game home stand. The Catamounts welcome UNCG Oct. 17 during Parent's Day and will honor its seven seniors Oct. 19 when it faces new SoCon member VMI.