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East Tennessee State University

Wawak_Caroline_UAB_2025
1
ETSU ETSU (7-2-3, 2-0-1)
1
Mercer Mercer (5-4-2, 0-1-2)
ETSU ETSU
(7-2-3, 2-0-1)
1
Final
1
Mercer Mercer
(5-4-2, 0-1-2)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
ETSU ETSU 0 1 1
Mercer Mercer 0 1 1

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

Bucs Set Record Unbeaten Streak at Mercer

Late Wawak goal puts Bucs level with Bears; unbeaten streak stretches to eight games

MACON, Ga. (Sep. 26, 2025) - It takes the extraordinary to achieve the extraordinary.

"Scoring goals at Mercer" falls into that category now.

Caroline Wawak's late strike from distance stole a 1-1 draw for ETSU on Friday against Mercer in Macon, ending their winning streak at six but extending their unbeaten streak to a school record eight games without a loss dating back to August 28 at Tennessee Tech.

The Buccaneers (7-2-3, 2-0-1) were rebuffed consistently by Mercer's defense early. The Bears (5-4-2, 0-1-2) couldn't get a clean look on goal themselves until the 18th minute when Payton Nutzman had an open lane to shoot from 25 yards out for a routine save by Addison Yelton. Nutzman's effort was the only shot on goal for either team in the first half.

In the 49th minute, Nutzman ran to the corner flag and put her right foot through a spectacular in-swinger that sailed into the goal past the outstretched arm of Yelton without touching another player - known as an "Olipmico" - for her seventh goal of the season.

ETSU faced an uphill battle to mount a response. In the 57th, Ainsley Parker fired a one-timer off a cross from Georgia Shields that beat Mercer 'keeper Lindsay Bell but clanged off the inside of the left post and back out. Mercer nearly added to the lead in the 82nd when Nutzman challenged Yelton from 35 yards out on a free kick that forced the keeper to make a save lunging to her right.

In the 88th, though, Wawak broke through with a thunderbolt off her right foot that grazed Bell's fingertips as it launched into the back-left corner of the goal, the first goal of the freshman's career five days after she earned her first collegiate assist. Jada Cooper and Taryn Childers collected assists, with Childers notching her first collegiate point.

Wawak's goal was ETSU's only shot on goal of the night.

The Bucs outshot the Bears 9-8, but Mercer won shots on goal 4-1. Reagan Fitzgerald led the Bucs with three shots, and Wawak had two. Yelton made three saves.

ETSU is back on the field Thursday at home against Wofford. Kickoff is set for 6:00pm at Summers-Taylor Stadium.

For more information on ETSU women's soccer, go to ETSUBucs.com.
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