Box Score Game Box (PDF)
Macon, Ga. – Mercer scored in each half and despite USC Upstate's attempt at a late rally, went on for a 3-1 victory over the Spartans in the A-Sun men's soccer opener for both teams Friday night.
Mercer (3-7-0, 0-1-0) opened a 1-0 lead in the fourth minute, made it a 2-0 game in the 55th minute and put the game away with a score with less than a minute to play to take the win over Upstate (0-6-1, 0-1-0). The Spartans return to action next Friday when they host Stetson in their A-Sun home opener.
Upstate had the first scoring opportunity with Julian Feneberg taking the first shot of the game in the third minute. His shot sailed high. Just 1:29 later, Mercer cracked the scoreboard on its first shot of the game when Juan Jose Morales took a long throw from Joey Heavner and put a low shot into the net for a 1-0 lead in the fourth minute to stake an early advantage.
Upstate took seven shots in the first half, three of which were saved by Mercer goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh. Mercer took six shots in the opening period, placing four shots on goal with Spartan keeper Hassan El-Haddad coming up with three saves.
Mercer struck relatively early in the second half as well. Upstate again took the first shot of the half and attempted two shots in the first five minutes. However, it was Mercer who found the back of the net first on its second shot of the half. Ryan King played a pass to a charging Ehjayson Henry who put the shot away low and to the right for a 2-0 Bear lead in the 55th minute.
Upstate would not go down without a fight. After battling for scoring opportunities throughout the half, the Spartans cut the Mercer lead to 2-1 in the 84th minute. Not surprisingly, Dave Musambi came through for the Spartans. Upstate has scored in five of its seven matches this season and Musambi has scored in all five to lead the team in scoring with 11 points on five goals and an assist.
Musambi took control of the ball deep in Mercer territory, worked to gain enough open space to get off a shot, and hammered a shot that skipped off Ranjitsingh and into the net to get the Spartans within a goal.
While Upstate pushed up its defense to try to tie the game and send it into overtime, Mercer put the game away with a goal with under a minute to play to take the 3-1 lead. The Spartan defense was pushed up when Mercer gained control of the ball. Heavner played a long ball behind the Upstate back line where David Murtaugh was there to put the shot away one-on-one with El-Haddad.
Upstate finished the game with a 12-11 lead in shots. Both keepers made three saves on the night. Musambi's goal gave him 11 points on the year, pushing the junior forward to double figures in scoring for the second consecutive season.
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