College Soccer: Mercer men's soccer team opens season against Clemson

Mercer Men’s Soccer Opens 2013 Season at Clemson

MACON, Georgia (MERCER ATHLETICS) - The Mercer men's soccer team opens the 2013 season on Friday, Aug. 30 when it travels to the Palmetto State to take on ACC member Clemson at 7 p.m. on Historic Riggs Field.

Mercer is 0-3-2 in season openers under sixth-year head coach Brad Ruzzo, most recently dropping a 2-1 decision at No. 20 UAB to begin the 2012 campaign.

Clemson and Mercer will renew an all-time series on Friday night that has been dormant since 1997 when the Tigers earned a 2-0 home win over the Bears.

Scouting the Opposition

Clemson enters 2013 brimming with confidence after a pair of convincing exhibition match victories over Wofford and No. 13 Coastal Carolina over the past two weeks. The Tigers were picked to finish sixth in the 2013 ACC Preseason Coaches' poll after returning nine starters back from last year's squad. Clemson finished 2012 ranked No. 60 in the RPI while tallying a 6-9-5 overall record and a 3-2-4 ACC mark for its best league finish since 2001.

Last Time Out

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Mercer men's soccer team saw its first live in-game action of the 2013 campaign in a 1-0 exhibition loss to South Carolina on Aug. 18 at Stone Stadium.

Junior Greg Ranjitsingh played all 90 minutes in net for the Bears and made eight saves in the contest.

Sophomore forward Jason Sayers led all Mercer players with three shots, including two on goal, in a losing effort.

Game Notes

- The Mercer men's soccer team was picked to finish third in the 2013 Atlantic Sun Conference Preseason Coaches' poll released by the conference office on August 14. The Bears did lead all A-Sun schools with four Preseason All-Conference members as seniors Joey Heavner, Ryan King and Ehjayson Henry and junior Greg Ranjitsingh were all selected to the squad.

- As 2013 begins, several Bears are at or near the top of the A-Sun Conference Men's Soccer Active Career Leaders List. Heavner leads all active players in the A-Sun with 17 career assists while Ranjitsingh leads all active netminders with 159 career saves and a 0.99 career goals against average.

- In a preseason list compiled by TopDrawerSoccer.com, five Mercer players were ranked among the Top-20 Players to Watch in the Atlantic Sun Conference this upcoming 2013 season. Ranjitsingh (No. 5) was the highest ranked of the bunch followed by Henry (No. 7), junior Ashani Samuels (No. 9), Heavner (No. 10) and King (No. 13).