The 1989 Mercy College men’s soccer team, led by Head Coach David Symes, was one of the most dominant teams in Mercy history, capping several illustrious careers with a record-setting 1989 campaign that included an 11-game winning streak, 14-game unbeaten streak to open the season, six shutouts, and the program’s first-ever conference crown.
The Flyers knocked off nationally-ranked powers such as Franklin Pierce University and C.W. Post en route to a 12-2-3 record and an NCAA Tournament invite – the program’s first in a decade. The final win of their record streak was when Mercy outlasted NYIT in a 5-4 thriller that handed the Flyers their first-ever New York Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship.
Mercy, which was ranked seventh in the nation and second in the region, went on to secure a first-round victory in the NCAA Division II Tournament over Southern Connecticut, 3-2. That exhilarating contest was decided in overtime after eight penalty kicks. The Flyers ultimately fell in the quarterfinals to an undefeated New Hampshire College squad, 3-2.
Coach Symes, who took home NYCAC Coach of the Year accolades at year’s end, and his squad boasted a slew of all-time record holders in school history, led by team Most Valuable Player David Fitzgerald, a forward who netted eight goals and distributed five assists. Moreover, defender Paul Woodley (Hall of Fame Class ‘06) and goalkeeper Andrew McGovern (Hall of Fame Class ‘08) received First Team All-Conference honors and Academic All-American accolades.
McGovern especially enjoyed a successful career at Mercy, ranking as the program leader with 214 saves and second all-time with a 1.18 goals-against average over his career. He also recorded an .820 save percentage and six shutouts.
Dennis Frawley and Michael Gregg were also valuable contributors to the 1989 squad, as they rank tied for sixth all-time at Mercy in goals scored (22), while Gregg sits in third on the assists chart (19). Robert “Robbie” Kilbane is ranked second all-time with 24 assists in his career as well.
1989 Men’s Soccer Team
Lenworth Dawson
David Fitzgerald
Sam Franco
Dennis Frawley
Michael Gregg
Kenneth Keegan
Robert “Robbie” Kilbane
Giovanne Manucci
Andrew McGovern
Peter Moore
Michael Morrissey
Owen Scully
Scott Shepherd
Dermott Sweeney
Fausto Vinces
Paul Woodley
Head Coach: David Symes
Assistant Coach: Dennis Prince
