Men's Soccer Trounces District of Columbia, 3-0 on Koki Hat Trick
Box Score BOXSCORE - Mercy vs. UDC
DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 28, 2011) – On a rainy Wednesday afternoon, the Mercy College men's soccer team hosted the University of the District of Columbia in the Mavericks' first match in over a week due to inclement weather. The Mavericks braved today's stormy first half to earn a resounding 3-0 victory behind a hat trick from junior forward William Koki (Aurora, Colo.).
Mercy improves to 5-1-1 with the win, while UDC drops to 4-3-1.
Rain began to pour just seconds into the match but both teams were determined to fight through the worsening weather in the first half. Koki began the match on the bench for only the second time this season but made an impact quickly in the 36th minute as he ran onto a long pass from senior midfielder Lamine Seck (Bronx, N.Y.) and pulled a move on his defender to find space for a low rocket into the right corner.
The Mavericks held the one-goal advantage through the half, but the Firebirds pushed for an equalizer, nearly capitalizing on a few misplays by the Mercy defense but coming up short every time.
The Mavericks were gifted a second goal in the 72nd minute, when freshman back Tafari Newman (Bronx, N.Y.) sent a long clearance upfield. The Firebirds' freshman goalkeeper, Alex Vert (Ijamsville, Md.), stepped out to clear the ball himself but misjudged it, allowing it to bounce over his head for the onrushing Koki to control and slot into the empty net.
Still not finished, Koki netted an insurance strike just five minutes later for the hat trick and his team-leading sixth goal of the season, jumping onto a through ball from graduate student forward Ben Latchford (Birmingham, England) that the keeper misjudged again and sending it home.
Junior goalkeeper Nick Papas (Castleton, N.Y.) built on his East Coast Conference Player of the Week Honor Roll award last week with an impressive game, having to make only two saves but punching several dangerous balls out of the area throughout the game for his second shutout of the year.
Head Coach Chris Smith and the Mavericks will resume conference play Saturday as they host undefeated St. Thomas Aquinas College (5-0-3 overall, 0-0-1 in conference), ranked No. 4 in the NSCAA East region.
