The Florida Atlantic University women’s soccer team was unable to capitalize on its scoring opportunities during Friday night’s 3-0 setback to 2010 NCAA Tournament participantMercerUniversityat the FAU Soccer Stadium in Boca Raton.  The Owls suffered their first setback of the season after returning to competition for the first time in two weeks.

Olivia Tucker scored two goals to lead the Bears, now 4-0.  Her first goal broke a scoreless match in the 37^th minute, and the second gave the visitors a 2-0 advantage early in the second half.

Meanwhile, FAU tried to keep pace with several scoring opportunities in the second half.  In the second minute of play, sophomore forward Jesse Shugg managed to find open field following a blocked Mercer shot.  The last defender was able to get a touch on Shugg’s shot.  The deflected ball went right to sophomore midfielder Lindsey Rice, who was on the left side of the box.  However, Rice’s shot sailed wide of the open goal.

Then, in the 55^th minute, FAU sophomore forward Brittney Nash ripped a shot from the right side of the 18-yard box.  The ball slipped through the hands of Mercer goalkeeper Cristian Guilarte and stopped just before crossing the goal line.  Guilarte was able to scramble back and recover the loose ball before Shugg could convert the scoring opportunity.

Finally, Guilarte made consecutive saves from shots by FAU senior midfielder Gabriela DeVries and sophomore midfielder Marisa Russo.  That assured the Bears’ fourth straight shutout this season.

Tucker’s first goal came from six yards away following a crossing pass from P.A. Upson.  The second goal came in the 59^th minute as Tucker found the back of the net from the center of the 18-yard box.  The shot deflected off the left post.  Washida Blackman scored the Bears’ third goal with eight minutes remaining in the match.

Mercer out shot FAU by a 16-11 margin in the match, with eight of the Owls’ shots coming in the second half.  Russo paced the host’s offensive attack with three shots, while Shugg and Nash added two shots a piece. 

FAU, 2-1, returns to the field on Sunday, September 4, when it battles the University of Missouri-Kansas City.  The match starts at noon.  Game details will be available at www.fausports.com.

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