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Mercer headed to NCAA Tournament as Southern Conference champions

After scoreless draw, Bears defeat ETSU on PK’s

The Mercer Bears are headed to the NCAA Tournament.

Mercer, the tournament’s second seed, played to a scoreless draw against the top-seeded East Tennessee State Buccaneers, but won 4-1 on a penalty shootout to clinch the program’s first Southern Conference tournament title since 2001.

Mercer held a 10-4 edge in shots (2-1 in shots on goal) as they limited the Bucs’ offensive chances throughout the game. It was a far cry from the two teams’ regular season matchup, which saw the teams combine for 27 shots in a 2-0 Bucs victory. Following two halves and two overtime periods of scoreless play, it went to penalty kicks, where Jack Poore had a chance to end it with his team ahead 3-1.

Mercer learns their destination on Monday at 1:00 p.m. during the NCAA Tournament selection show. There could be another local team joining them, as Georgia State takes on Coastal Carolina tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. with the Sun Belt championship on the line.