JOHNSON CITY, TENNESSEE — #6 Mercer pulled off a stunning upset, defeating #3 ETSU 2-1 on Friday in the 2025 Southern Conference Championship match. The sixth-seeded Bears secured their second consecutive victory with a late go-ahead goal, stunning the third-ranked Buccaneers before a hostile home crowd and dramatically altering the tournament landscape.
Mercer controlled possession throughout the opening half but struggled to convert chances into goals. Morganne Eikelbarner fired two shots that missed the target, while Sara Engels and Maria Karipidis also failed to find the net. ETSU remained compact defensively, limiting the Bears' opportunities despite Mercer's 14 shot attempts. The first 45 minutes remained scoreless as both teams jockeyed for position in a tightly contested affair.
The deadlock persisted into the second half until Maggie Rollins broke through in the 67th minute, giving Mercer a 1-0 advantage. The goal appeared to settle the match in the Bears' favor, but ETSU responded decisively. Grace Eatz equalized in the 64th minute with an assist from Alex Beck, leveling the score at 1-1 and forcing a decisive final stretch.
Maria Karipidis delivered the decisive blow in the 82nd minute, assisted by Morganne Eikelbarner, restoring Mercer's lead at 2-1. The goal proved insurmountable as ETSU could not find another equalizer despite sustained pressure in the closing minutes. Mercer's