Bears Drop Second in a Row at No. 5 Florida St.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – After starting out the 2011 season 4-0, the Mercer women's soccer team has now dropped two straight matches, including a 4-0 decision on Sunday against No. 5 Florida St.

The Bears (4-2-0, 0-0-0 A-Sun) came into the match against the Seminoles (7-1-0, 0-0-0 ACC) trying to rebound after a tough 2-1 overtime loss at Georgia on Friday night. Unfortunately for the Bears the No. 5 team in the country had plans of its own. FSU dominated much of the match, and became the first team to shutout the Bears this season. Mercer generated just four shots in match as the Seminoles peppered the bears with 22 shots – including 12 on goal.  

"I want to congratulate Florida St. on an outstanding game," head coach Grant Serafy said. "Today I thought they wanted it more than us and they are a superior team. They seemed to want it more and they out worked us in most facets of the game."

Mercer played a competitive first 30 minutes on Sunday holding FSU scoreless early on. However, the game quickly got out of control in the 32^nd minute as the Seminoles rattled off three goals in a span of 5 minutes and 26 seconds. The Bears offense did not help out the outmatched defense as the team recorded just one shot in the first half.

Senior Cagney Valloch received the start in goal for the Bears making four saves before being replaced by fellow senior Cristina Guilarte after the third and final goal of the first half.

"I was disappointed in our performance," Serafy said. "I certainly knew Florida St. was strong, but I thought we could at least give them a challenge, for whatever reason today we couldn't muster a strong performance."

Freshman Washida Blackman continued her impressive first year in Macon by leading the Bears with two shots on the day.

Mercer wraps up its non-conference portion of the schedule next week as the team heads first to take on Presbyterian on Friday September, 23 at 7 p.m. The Bears then return home for the first time in nearly a month next Sunday to take on Alabama St. at 2 p.m.