Mercer Game Information (Friday, Oct. 5 – 3 p.m. – WLI Field, Charleston, S.C.)
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CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel women's soccer team will play just one game this week against travel partner Mercer. The Bulldogs will then be off from outside competition until Thursday, Oct. 11 when they travel to Furman for a 7 p.m. game on the SoCon Digital Network.

LAST TIME OUT (W, 4-3 vs. VMI)
For the first time since the 2016 season, The Citadel women's soccer team has won a Southern Conference game. The Bulldogs defeated rival VMI, 4-3, at Washington Light Infantry Field Sunday afternoon, marking the first win over the Keydets since 2014 and the first win at home in the series since 2004. Katherine Arroyo netted her third game-winner of the season and fourth of her career with close to six minutes remaining. Despite a furious late charge from the Keydets, the Bulldog defense held strong for the win.

WHERE THE BULLDOGS STAND IN THE NATION
The Citadel enters the week in the top 50 in NCAA Division I in seven statistical categories. The Bulldogs are third in the nation with an average of 10.58 shots on goal per game and are tied for sixth with an average of 20 shots per game. The 'Dogs are also tied for 31st for total points (75), tied for 33rd in both total assists (23) and total goals scored (26), tied for 38th with a .529 shot accuracy and are tied for 42nd for scoring offense with an average of 2.17 goals per game.

ARROYO NATIONALLY
Arroyo is in the top-40 in NCAA Division I in three statistical categories. She is 15th in the nation in shot accuracy (.684), 21st with an average of 2.17 goals per game and she is tied for 36th with three game-winning goals.

WINNING A SOCON GAME
The win over VMI on Sunday, Sept. 30, marked the first Southern Conference win for The Citadel since defeating Wofford, 1-0, on the road on Oct. 6, 2016. It was also the first SoCon win at home since the 2013 'Dogs defeated Elon, 2-1, on Oct. 4, 2013.

BEATING VMI
The win over the Keydets was the first since Oct 29, 2014 when The Citadel won 3-0 on the road. It was also the first home victory since a 3-2 Bulldog victory on Sept. 24, 2004, the very first meeting between the two teams in women's soccer. The win snapped a streak of three straight losses this season, as well as a four-game winning streak by VMI in the series.

WINNING GAMES
The Bulldogs' seven wins so far this season are the most since the 2014 campaign when The Citadel went 7-14 overall and 2-7 in SoCon play. Prior to that season, the 2010 team set the program record with 12 wins on the year, including seven in conference play.

FIRST TIME GOAL SCORERS
Devyn Nyhart's goal in the 78th minute of the win over VMI, and Ellie Burgess' goal in the 80th minute, were the first of their collegiate careers. The Bulldogs have now had five first-time scorers this season, including Nyhart, Burgess, Kessy Bradshaw, Emily Mason and Mel Mikoy. The program record is six first-time collegiate goal scorers set in 2002 and matched in 2010. The five first-time goal scorers for this season match the 2013 season for third most.

WINNING RECORD AT HOME
For the first time since the 2010 season, The Citadel is guaranteed to have a winning record at home as the Bulldogs take a 5-1 home record into the final three home games. The 2010 'Dogs went 6-3 at home with wins over Maine, South Carolina State, Chattanooga, Davidson, Wofford and sixth-seeded Furman in the SoCon Championships.

BULLDOGS MOVING UP CAREER LISTS
Logan Dix, Arroyo and Hannah Roth have all made moves up various career lists this season. Arroyo recently moved up into a tie for 12th all-time with nine career goals, scoring her fifth goal of the season in the win over VMI (9/30). The goal added two points to her career total, giving her 21, which moves her up into a tie for 15th. Arroyo is also tied for seventh with three career game-winning goals. Dix is also tied for 12th all-time with nine career goals as she has six so far this season and she is tied for 12th for career points with 23, including 15 so far this year. Her six goals scored on the year rank just outside the top 10 in program history for goals scored in a single season while her 15 points this season has her currently tied for 15th in program history for points in a single season. Roth moved up into a tie for 11th all-time with five assists for her career. Her four assists so far this season are tied for sixth-most by a Bulldog in a single season.

FRESHMEN RISING THROUGH THE RANKS
Three freshmen have risen through the ranks for freshman class records this season. Bradshaw is tied for 14th all-time for goals scored by a freshman with four. Her next goal will move her into a tie for ninth. Mikoy finds herself tied for sixth all-time with three assists. Her next assist will move her into a tie for third for assists by a freshman. Mason is just behind Mikoy with two assists already on the year, a mark that has her tied for 10th.

THE HISTORY WITH MERCER
Mercer enters Friday's game 5-0 all-time against The Citadel and 4-0 in regular-season SoCon games. The two have met just twice in Charleston (2013 and 2016).

SCOUTING The BEARS
Mercer enters the week as one of the more potent scoring offenses in the country. The Bears lead the nation with 35 goals scored and are tied for fifth with 94 total points. Mercer is also tied for 15th in NCAA Division I with 2.50 goals per game. The Bears have held their opponents to just over one goal per game, a total of 15, including four shutouts. Abigail Zoeller leads the team with nine goals and six assists for 24 points. She has taken a team-high 58 shots, with 31 being on frame. Six other Bears have scored multiple goals on the year, including four from both Caroline Smith and Alina McCue. McCue leads the team with two game-winning goals. Jordyn Ebert is the Bears' leading goalkeeper, having appeared in 13 games with eight starts and a 5-4-3 record, including three solo shutouts and one combined shutout. In her 1,042 minutes of action, she boasts a 1.04 goals against average and 45 saves.

COMING UP
Following Friday's game with the Bears, the Bulldogs will hit the road for two SoCon games in the Upstate. The 'Dogs will first travel to Furman on Thursday, Oct. 11 for a 7 p.m. game and will then travel to Spartanburg for a 2 p.m. game with Wofford on Sunday, Oct. 14. The Bulldogs will then close out the regular season at home with games against Western Carolina and ETSU.

For more information and updates on The Citadel soccer team's season, visit CitadelSports.com and follow @CitadelWSoccer on Twitter and Instagram.