Macon, Ga.--Despite late pressure and a flurry of shots in the dying minutes, the Georgia State men's soccer team dropped a tough 2-0 match at Mercer on Sunday night.

The Panthers managed 10 shots total including five on goal for the match but couldn't come up with a score to make cut the deficit to one goal. The Panthers ripped eight shots in the second half including four in the last 10 minutes looking for their first tally.

GSU falls to 3-3-0 on the year while the Bears improve to 4-2-1.

Redshirt junior Caleb Kernan rang the crossbar with a header in the 87^th minute that led to a follow up chance from senior Peter Vania that just went high. Junior Jamal Keene ripped a shot with just more than two minutes left that barely cleared the bar as the Panthers pressed late.

Senior Vincent Foermer made four saves in the match, including several diving stops that kept the match scoreless until the 59^th minute. Mercer senior midfielder Sharpe Sablon buried a low cross from junior Ehjayson Henry at the 58:24 mark to give the Bears an early 1-0 edge. Sophomore midfielder Carl-Oscar Andersson also assisted on Sablon's goal. Junior defender Brady O'Brien scored at the 61:09 mark directly off a corner kick from the right side to give Mercer a 2-0 lead.

The match was the 51^st meeting between Georgia State and Mercer all-time. The Panthers remain ahead in the all-time series 30-17-4.

Georgia State, led by third-year head coach Brett Surrency, prepares for its Colonial Athletic Association opener on Saturday at Towson. The Panthers then face the No. 3-ranked Maryland Terrapins in College Park, Md. the following Monday. Visit the men's soccer page on www.GeorgiaStateSports.com for a preview of both matches late in the week.

www.GeorgiaStateSports.com