MATCH NOTES: UNF Ready for Friday Home Opener Against Mercer

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida men's soccer (1-1-0) will look to rebound from Sunday's loss when they take on Mercer (1-1-0) in their first game at Hodges Stadium on Friday evening at 7 pm.

WHAT TO KNOW

Seniors LJ Estes and Padraic Gilley, as well as junior Herbie Steigelman, are the only three players for UNF to play all 90 minutes for the first two games this season.
The Ospreys defeated Georgia State, 3-1, on the road in their first game of the season, while Mercer lost to the Panthers, 1-0, at home this past weekend.
Just as this is the first home match for UNF this season, this will also be the first road match for Mercer as well.
Senior Mirza Nevoric leads the team in total shots taken, with four, and shots on goal, with three, through the first two games.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

The players to watch for Mercer are midfielder Dylan Gaither and defender Ousman Jabang. Both players were selected for preseason honors in the SoCon and Gaither was the leading scorer for the Bears last season with five goals.

Mercer went 0-2-0 during their exhibition matches with losses to Campbell, 4-1, and UAB, 3-2. They opened their season with a huge win at home against Gardner-Webb, 4-0, but couldn't repeat their success when playing Georgia State, as they lost at home, 1-0, from a penalty kick goal.

The goal scorers for Mercer so far this season have been forward Trevor Martineau, as well as Gaither. A hat trick was recorded by Gaither in their season-opener against Gardner-Webb and one of those goals was assisted by Martineau.

SERIES HISTORY

- UNF is 6-8-1 all-time against Mercer with a 3-3-1 record against them at home.
- They played each other earlier this year during the 2021 spring season and the Ospreys won, 2-1, at home.
- The Ospreys were 4-2 when facing Mercer as a conference opponent from 2008-2013.

ON TAP

North Florida will stay home and return to action on Tuesday, Sept 7. when they play FIU at Hodges Stadium.