Macon, Ga. – Facing a 1-0 deficit for the second time in as many matches, the Western Carolina women's soccer team again mounted a second-half road rally, netting a pair of unanswered goals to overcome the Mercer Bears 2-1 on Sunday afternoon.

Abbie Wise recorded the equalizer goal, with assists from Samantha Whitaker and Isabella DeMarco, while Rylie Niemeyer scored the game-winner. Both goals were the first career markers for Wise and Niemeyer.  

The Catamounts finished off a five-game road swing with the win, going 3-0-2 in the stretch, and improved to 5-3-3 this season and 1-0-1 in SoCon play. Mercer dropped to 5-4-1 overall and 0-1-1 in conference play.

WCU outshot Mercer 17-10, putting nine shots on net compared to the home team's five. Mercer led in corner kicks, doubling up the Catamounts by taking 10 to WCU's five.  

The Catamounts had the first true scoring threat on Sunday, with Emma Soucy putting the first shot of the match on goal in the 6th minute. Mercer goalkeeper Lindsay Bell denied the shot to keep the game scoreless. Isabella DeMarco followed it up with a shot in the 11th minute before Maria Karipidis fired Mercer's first attempt in the 14th.  

The Bears took the lead first when Morganne Eikelbarner scored in the 16th minute with the team's first on-target shot of the match. After the early goal, the Catamount offense increased the pressure, with DeMarco, Samantha Whitaker, and Mary Mueth all taking shots on goal, but the Catamounts couldn't even the score before halftime.

WCU answered early in the second, as Samantha Whitaker and Isabella DeMarco connected with Abbie Wise for the game-tying score in the 50th minute. The first goal Wise's career came on DeMarco's 23rd career assist.

The Catamounts continued to apply pressure following the goal, outshooting Mercer 6-1 until the 69th minute when Rylie Niemeyer broke the 1-1 draw. Wise connected with Niemeyer on the play, with the goal being the latter's first career goal and the eventual game-winner in the match.

With the home team trailing, the Bears offense surged late, with Mercer outshooting the Catamounts 5-2 in the final 13 minutes of play, posting four of those shots on frame. WCU keeper Leanne Trudel weathered the late-game barrage, collecting all four of her saves in the stretch as the Catamounts held on for the 2-1 win.

Catamount Notables:

• The 2-1 win at Mercer marked the final match of a five-game road swing for the Catamounts. WCU went 3-0-2 in that run, with additional wins over Winthrop (2-0) and UNC Wilmington (2-0).  
• The Catamounts are unblemished on the road this season, posting a 4-0-3 mark away from Cullowhee this year.
• WCU is on a three-match winning streak against Mercer, its longest in the series history.
• Abbie Wise and Rylie Niemeyer recorded their first career goals in the match, with Wise netting the game-tying goal and Niemeyer recording the game-winner.  
• Additionally, Samantha Whitaker and Wise recorded assists in the match, with WCU defenders accounting for six of seven points.
• Isabella DeMarco recorded one shot on goal and an assist in the 2-1 win. She is now tied for the career record in shots on goal with 99 and is only two assists away from tying the school record in career assists.
• DeMarco has recorded a point in her last four matches. She is tied with Sofia Goclowski for the team lead in total points at seven.

Up Next for The Catamounts:

The Catamounts return home to host the Furman Paladins on Friday, Sept. 26, for a 7 p.m. kick at the Catamount Athletic Complex. WCU is then back in action on Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. as it hosts the VMI Keydets.