The Mercer women’s soccer team fell 3-2 at home to the Community College of Baltimore County-Essex on Saturday, October 5, despite a late push in the second half that almost saw the Lady Vikings erase a three goal deficit.
Neither team was able to break through in the first half, although CCBC Essex came closest to breaking the deadlock. A last-second goal-line clearance from Vikings defender #18 Gianna Gollinge allowed the home team to head into the break with a clean sheet still intact.
Four minutes into the second half, CCBC Essex forward #7 Taylor West found the back of the net after she volleyed a pass from teammate #12 Dani Zacierka off her left foot and past Mercer goalkeeper Courtney Fox.
CCBC Essex doubled their advantage two minutes later with a goal from #10 Kara Dietrich.
After receiving a pass down the left-hand side of the field, the Knights midfielder found space in Mercer’s six yard box and buried her shot at the near post.
CCBC Essex extended their lead even further with a goal from a corner kick fourteen minutes into the second half. #5 Emily Vetri whipped the ball into the box and #15 midfielder Ryleigh Fachler connected with her right boot, sending the ball into the back of the net.
“I thought the first 25 [minutes] of the second half went very well; it was about as well as we have moved the ball this year,” CCBC Essex head coach Joe Fiedler said.
Mercer’s top scorer overall, Jamie Ervin, felt the Vikings had the Knights in their grasp but let them slip away.
“I believe we had them the whole time, like we have the capability to win but we just came out flat in the second half.
We definitely had the opportunity to score more goals than we did,” she said.
The Mercer women’s soccer team’s record is 10-5 this season so far, compared to last year’s losing 4-11-1 record. Ervin thinks the numbers should be slanted even more in Mercer’s favor this season.
“I just think we had the opportunity to win more games than we actually do. Every game this season we lost, we actually had the opportunity to win. We just need to give it our all. We’re not all giving 100 percent,” she said.
