Men's Soccer Prepares to Face No. 1 LIU Post in ECC Matchup
Box Score DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Oct. 25, 2013) – The Mercy College men's soccer team will take on the No. 1 LIU Post Pioneers in an East Coast Conference matchup on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 2:30 p.m. in Brookville, N.Y.
The Pioneers (14-1 overall, 7-0 in the ECC) are coming off their first loss of the season just a week after claiming the top spot in Division II. LIU Post fell, 1-0, to No. 15 Post University in Waterbury, Conn. on an 87th-minute strike. To that point, the Pioneers had scored an incredible 50 goals in 14 games, led by Division II Player of the Year frontrunner Eivind Austboe, who has tallied 45 points on a Division II-leading 19 goals and seven assists. Four other Pioneers have toaled more than 10 points while goalkeeper Marco Jorgensen has posted a 0.94 goals against average on a .817 save percentage with three shutouts.
The Mavericks (9-3-2, 3-2-1) are right in the thick of the ECC Championship race, most recently rallying from a first-half deficit to defeat Saint Anselm College, 2-1, in non-conference action on Thursday. Sophomore Christian Diaz (Watsonville, Calif. / Univ. of Vermont), who earlier in the season was tied with Austboe for the conference lead in goals scored, finally notched his seventh goal of the season after missing time with an injury and still paces the Mavericks with 17 points. Juniors Danny Leon Jr. (Flushing, N.Y. / Benjamin Cardozo) and Roberto Dashi (Nyack, N.Y. / Clarkstown South) have each totaled 10 points, with Leon Jr. tallying three game-winning goals. Senior Nick Papas (Castleton, N.Y. / Hudson Valley CC) still leads the ECC in save percentage with a .831 mark and has recorded a 0.89 goals against average, including six shutouts and another 90 scoreless minutes of regulation play.
Head Coach Chris Smith's squad will look to finish the job this year after leading early in both of last year's matchups – including the ECC Championship semifinal – between the two foes. Kick-off is set for 2:30 p.m. following the women's game. The game will be available online via Live Stats, which can be accessed through the men's soccer schedule page.
