Box Score MACON, Ga. -- Junior midfielder Matthew Cutler scored an unassisted goal with 33 seconds left in a regulation to force overtime, and UNCG played host Mercer to a 1-1 tie in the Southern Conference opener for both teams Saturday at Betts Stadium.
 
Cutler's equalizer came not long after Dylan Gaither, a midfielder who leads Mercer in scoring, gave the Bears a 1-0 lead with an unassisted goal in the 82nd minute.
 
"It was a difficult day for us," Spartans head coach Chris Rich said. "We had to deal with a bit of adversity with our travel, the playing conditions, and some injuries, which is always tough. But the guys fought until the end and showed an incredible amount of resilience to equalize with about 30 seconds left in the game. Massive credit to Matthew Cutler for taking the chance so well in such an important moment."
 
Freshman goalkeeper Niclas Wild made three saves for UNCG (4-1-1 overall, 0-0-1 SoCon). Wild has a 0.67 goals-against average.
 
Mercer (2-6-1 overall, 0-1-1 SoCon) outshot UNCG 10-9, but the Spartans put pressure on late.
 
"We had some moments in the second half where we were good, where we were able to have some good periods of possession in our attacking half," Rich said, "Overall we weren't at our best, if we're being honest with ourselves. Credit to Mercer, as I thought they caused us a lot of problems."
 
Bears' goalkeeper J.R. DeRose made four saves, including two in the final 5 minutes of the second overtime. DeRose stopped a shot by UNCG sophomore Angel Bacho in the 106th minute, then made a save on freshman forward Theo Collomb's shot in the 108th minute.
 
"I am extremely proud of the team," Rich said. "Many guys had to play big minutes, with some playing out of position. At the end of the day, to get a point on the road against one of the better teams in our league is positive."
 
UNCG plays again at 7 p.m. Saturday, when the Spartans host Furman in a Southern Conference match at UNCG Soccer Stadium.