CLINTON, S.C. - Jonny Mercado (Lilburn, Ga.) scored twice in the second half of the Presbyterian College men's soccer team's match against Radford to give the Blue Hose a 2-1 home victory over the Highlanders on Saturday evening.
PC improves to 3-11-0 on the year and 3-3-0 in Big South Conference play, the highest win total in league play for the program since joining the Big South in 2008. The 3-3-0 marker eclipses the previous best of 2-4-0, set in 2009.
The result also marks the 300th win in program history. PC's all-time record now stands at 300-273-11 dating back to 1977.
Radford moves to 7-7-0 overall and 3-3 in conference action.
Mercado gave PC a 1-0 lead on an assist from Josh Carter (Anchorage, Alaska) in the 48th minute after a scoreless first half. Carter passed from inside the goal box out to a waiting Mercado on the right side, who lifted a shot across the box and in for his third of the season.
Radford battled the PC defense looking for an equalizer and found it in the 81st minute. Iyiola Awosika took the ball deep into PC territory and connected with Luis Grande, who converted from in close to bring the game back to even at 1-1.
With the match seemingly headed to overtime, Mercado struck again in the 88th minute, just 2:48 before the end of regulation. The PC junior controlled the ball along the edge of the goal box, keeping two Radford defenders at bay and creating space for a shot that bulged the net on the left side for a score.
The goal marked his third of the year as he became the second member of the Blue Hose to score twice in one game this season, matching Byron Quinatoa's (Santo Domingo de los Colorados, Ecuador) pair against Campbell on October 8.
PC goalkeeper Ethan Watson (Taylorsville, Ga.) made five saves--including two vital stops after the Radford goal--to earn his second collegiate win. The freshman made four saves in the final frame en route to the victory.
Despite being outshot 23-10 and falling behind on corner kicks by a 10-2 margin, PC made its chances count and limited Radford's scoring opportunities. The Blue Hose registered four shots on goal to Radford's six and drew the Highlanders offside five times.
The first half saw both teams play an evenly-matched period, with each tallying one shot on goal.
Quinatoa and Ignacio Monchetti (Montevideo, Uruguay) each tested the Radford goalkeeper Dane Wilson once during the match. Luke Ade (Alpharetta, Ga.) also picked up two shots, as did Carter.
The Blue Hose next travel to Winthrop on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. matchup in Rock Hill, S.C.
