STATESBORO, Ga. - Mercer University's Will Bagrou scored twice in the first half to lead the visiting Bears to a 2-1 non-conference win over Georgia Southern men's soccer on Saturday, halting the Eagles' three-match winning streak.
With the loss, the Eagles fall to 4-4 on the season, with all eight matches played by Georgia Southern so far this season decided by just one goal. Mercer improved to 2-4-2 with the win. Georgia Southern returns to action on Wednesday, September 27th, hosting Jacksonville University at 7 p.m. in a match rescheduled from two weeks ago due to Hurricane Irma.
The Bears struck first in the 15th minute as Bagrou found his way into the box with the ball, dribbled to the end line against an Eagle defender and goalkeeper
Robert Flott and hit a tough-angle shot inside the far side netting for the  early 1-0 lead.
Bagrou wasn't done as in the 32nd minute, he ran onto a perfectly slotted through ball from Roberto Arteaga and beat Flott one-on-one for the two-goal advantage.
Georgia Southern pulled one back before halftime as a deep throw-in landed at the feet of reigning SBC Offensive Player of the Week
Javier Carbonell. Carbonell whipped a cross to the top of the six, where
Sebastian Gregersen finished deftly for his first goal as an Eagle. Mercer took a 2-1 lead into halftime and enjoyed a 6-3 edge in shots.
In the second half, the Eagles stepped up the offensive pressure and had several chances to tie. Carbonell had a header from the right side that inched just wide in the 60th minute. Just a minute later, a mad scramble in the box saw
Aldair Cortes have a header in front of an open net but it lofted high.
Thor Sveinbjornsson drew a foul just outside the box in the 69th minute, but Carbonell's free kick sailed high. The last chance for the Eagles came in the 83rd minute where a rising try from distance by Cortes was saved by Mercer goalkeeper Jeremy Booth.
"Our ability to keep the ball tonight and get ahold of it was as poor as I've ever seen it," Head Coach John Murphy said. "I'll give credit to Mercer. They came in playing a certain style, that we have to be able to deal with it, and we didn't deal with it tonight."
The Eagles finished the second half with a 6-2 edge in shots and an overall 9-8 edge in shots on the night. Booth made four saves in net for the Bears, while Flott made three saves in net for Georgia Southern. Each team was whistled for 11 fouls and Mercer had a considerable 7-1 edge in corner kicks. Each team was offsides twice on the evening.
