MACON, Ga. - The Mercer University men's soccer team scored within the match's first two minutes and went on to collect a 3-0 victory over visiting Georgia Southern University on Tuesday evening at Betts Field in Macon.

The Bears scored just one minute and 45 seconds into the match as Dylan Gaither took a quick free kick from the left side of the box, catching Georgia Southern unprepared. The ball curved inside the far post for the early 1-0 advantage.

Mercer enjoyed a 12-3 edge in shots at the break.

The second half started quickly for the Bears as well as Ricardo Packer Jr. dribbled down the right side to the end line, then crossed to a waiting Dawson Gideon, who put in the short-range shot in the 51st minute for a 2-0 lead.

Mercer tacked on another goal in the 64th minute on a Trevor Martineau tally, assisted by Kareve Richards and Andrew Anyafo.

The Bears held the Eagles without a shot in the second half and finished the contest with a 23-3 advantage in shots. Mercer had five corner kicks and Georgia Southern had three. The Eagles were whistled for 15 fouls and the Bears were whistled for 13. Mercer was offsides three times in the match.

Georgia Southern returns to action on Saturday, September 26, hosting UAB in its 2020 Fall home opener.

HEAD COACH JOHN MURPHY'S COMMENTS

"Obviously we started off slowly. They scored within the first five minutes, and against a team like Mercer, that's really going to hurt you. I thought we got up to speed, then we tried to make an adjustment after we got into halftime. I knew the second goal was going to be key, and to give that up again just five minutes into the second half, it really solidified their grip of the game. It makes it very difficult to come back under those circumstances."

"It shouldn't have been as one sided as it was. Stats can be funny sometimes, but at the end of the day, to give up three goals in this rivalry, that's a big advantage. It usually doesn't happen when we play them. I hope it's just an outlier and something we can learn from. We are a young group, still trying to learn just what is our best combination and we are going to continue to work towards that. We have a talented UAB team coming in on Saturday. It'll be exciting to play at home finally, and we're going to try to find a way to put on a performance that matches the support we get from our home crowds."

"It shouldn't have been as one sided as it was. Stats can be funny sometimes, but at the end of the day, to give up three goals in this rivalry, that's a big advantage. It usually doesn't happen when we play them. I hope it's just an outlier and something we can learn from. We are a young group, still trying to learn just what is our best combination and we are going to continue to work towards that. We have a talented UAB team coming in on Saturday. It'll be exciting to play at home finally, and we're going to try to find a way to put on a performance that matches the support we get from our home crowds."