The Chattanooga women’s soccer team fell 2-1 on the road at Mercer Friday night in Southern Conference action at Betts Field. After falling behind 2-0 early, Hollie Massey connected on a shot to cut the Bears lead in half, but it wouldn’t be enough.
The Mocs fall to 7-4-3 overall and 2-2-1 in league action. Mercer 11-2 on the year and 3-1 against the SoCon.
Massey’s goal, in the 41st minute, pulled the Mocs to within a goal.
She picked up a throw in from Grace Klippenstein and made a quick turn toward the goal, firing from outside the left corner of the 18-yard box. Her shot darted in high over the leaping Mercer keeper into the top left corner.
The Bears first score came in the 12th minute off a free kick from deep in the left corner. Nicole Icen picked up her ninth goal of the season heading the ball into the net from the far side of the box back to the lower left corner.
The second score was just moments later, again off a free kick, this time from near midfield. The ball was served into the box and Chattanooga’s defense surrounded the ball. UTC keeper Ashton Shields came away from the net and a defender attempted to clear the ball with a slide, but it hit off Mercer’s Amaya Evens and into the goal to give the Bears a two goal advantage with just 12:19 gone in the match.
The teams were fairly matched on shots with UTC edging Mercer 14-12 and the Bears had a 7-5 shots on goal advantage. Shields made five saves in the match compared to Jordyn Ebert’s four. Massey led Chattanooga with six shots, four on goal and Samantha Shaw had three.
Shaw’s sister Maggie sent a pass into the box that Samantha was able to get her head on in the 64th minute, but it went wide. Bailey Gale was able to get a shot around the Bear defense, but it went wide as well.
Chattanooga will wrap up its four-game road swing this weekend with a match at The Citadel Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. The game will be carried live on ESPN3 and live stats will be available on the women’s soccer schedule page at GoMocs.com.
SCORING SUMMARY
1 MER 11:11 Nicole Icen (Abigail Zoeller)
2 MER 12:19 Amaya Evans (unassisted)
3 UTC 40:17 Hollie Massey (Grace Klippenstein)