Box Score Johnson City, Tenn. – The sixth-seeded VMI men's soccer team nearly pulled off an upset Friday afternoon, but fell 2-1 to #3 Mercer University in the first round of the Southern Conference Championship Tournament in a contest played at ETSU.

Sophomore Grant Martin headed in a corner kick from Nathan Lam with about 8:30 remaining on the game clock to cut the Bear advantage to one but the Keydets could get no closer.

Inside the Box Score:

• Martin's goal was his third of the season, the most on the team
• Nathan Lam nearly tied the game at one in the 63^rd minute, firing a shot from just outside the box. The Mercer keeper made a diving deflection and the ball bounced off the cross bar and away from the goal
• The VMI defense was again stingy, allowing just two goals or less for the 10^th time this year in 17 matches
• Senior Gabe Calhoun made six saves on the day
• Michael Ille (17^th minute) and Sekou Agard (68^th) scored for Mercer
• The Keydets fired three of their five shots on goal

 
Next:
The Bears advance to play #2 ETSU Sunday at 3 p.m. with the winner advancing to the SoCon title game