The Mercer men's soccer team dropped its season opener 3-0 to Florida Atlantic University on Friday at Betts Stadium. The Bears gave up two goals early on defensive mishaps and never recovered against an Owls team that made an appearance in the NCAA tournament last year and who haven't lost a season opener since 2018.
Mercer fell behind just inside of the 10-minute mark on a contested cross from Owls forward DJ Koulai to Owls forward Michel Tentchou. The Owls kept up the momentum off of a giveaway at midfield and extended their lead to two off of a long-range strike from Xavi Csato just minutes later.
Bears veteran head coach Brad Ruzzo then made a quadruple substitution, bringing on Ehi Aimiuwu '27, Colton Ellison '29, Anthony Herrera '29 and Tolu Edeyemi '29. The injection of fresh legs flipped the momentum the Bears' way, as the team fired off nine consecutive unanswered shots, but couldn't convert and went into the half still down two.
The beginning of the second half continued most of the Bears' momentum from the first. Mercer attacked Owls' American Conference Preseason Goalie of the Year Alfred Mikkelsen on multiple setpieces, but a lengthy stoppage for a penalty review, which was ultimately given as a goal kick, put a damper on the Bears' high energy. After a long ball deep into Mercer territory set up Koulai on the right wing, the forward was able to dribble past two Mercer defenders and slot the ball into the box. The ball eventually found David Jesus, who put the Owls up for good with their third and final goal.
Star Bears defender Eli Bannister '29, who was selected for the Preseason All-SoCon Team after making the All-SoCon First Team as a freshman, was mostly neutralized along the wing, not recording a single shot. Will Taylor '29 led Mercer with three shots, but did not put any on target. The Bears' only two shots on target came from Aimiuwu and defender AJ Pama '27, a transfer from Georgia Southern University, but did not trouble the Owls' keeper.
The Bears sorely missed the offensive presence of Junior Casillas '26, last year's leading goalscorer, and Fernando Arteaga '26, who ranked third. Arteaga joined the Bears' coaching staff this offseason as an assistant coach alongside Carlos Santamaria and Mercer soccer legend Dylan Gaither, who currently holds the team's all-time shots on goal record and ranks second in assists.
Replacing Casillas and Arteaga, and whom the Bears hope will provide the offensive spark behind Aimiuwu in the coming season, is six-foot-five forward Christopher Nezianya '27, a transfer from Tulsa University.
Supporting the offense behind Aimiuwu and Nezianya are Manza Masamuna '29 and Will Taylor '29, both of whom were named to the SoCon All-Freshman team last season alongside Bannister. Leading the defense after the key departures of Gavin Morgan '26 and Tommy Redd '26, who both ranked in the top four in minutes played last season, is fifth-year graduate student Anthony Thambwe. All-SoCon Second Team goalkeeper Henry Hampshaw also returns for the team.
The Bears' next game will be against the University of North Florida on August 23 in Jacksonville, Fla. The Bears have not bested the Ospreys since 2019.
Jacob Hossler '28 is an English and Law and Public Policy double major at Mercer University. While not serving as the Sports Editor at The Cluster, he enjoys running, writing and photography.
