Papas Makes Six Saves in Seventh Shutout as Men's Soccer Ties ECC Foe UDC
Box Score DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Oct. 29, 2013) – Senior goalkeeper Nick Papas (Castleton, N.Y. / Hudson Valley CC) extended his East Coast Conference-leading save percentage to .839 and posted his seventh shutout of the season to pull within one of the program's all-time record as the Mercy College men's soccer team played ECC foe the University of the District of Columbia to a double overtime tie on Tuesday afternoon.
Mercy's record now stands at 9-3-4 overall and 3-2-3 in the ECC while UDC is now 7-5-2 (2-4-2).
The Mavericks controlled the game from the outset, going on to outshoot the Firebirds, 25-15, and win the corner battle, 11-4. Despite putting eight shots on target, however, Mercy could not break through and had to settle for their third tie in ECC play this season.
Each team got off a shot to force a save in the early going, but it wasn't long before Mercy took complete control as shots by senior Luis Perez (Jackson Heights, N.Y. / Monroe CC) and junior Danny Leon Jr. (Flushing, N.Y. / Benjamin Cardozo) hit the crossbar and the Mavericks forced another pair of saves from sophomore Louis Connor while not allowing a single shot or corner to the Firebirds through halftime.
Mercy looked bound to get on the board as the second half got underway. Senior Ransmond Aboagye (Bronx, N.Y. / Borough of Manhattan CC) shook his defender to put a header on target, but was denied. Junior Andrew Levy (Bayside, N.Y. / Berkeley College) got onto the rebound and put an acrobatic bicycle kick on frame as well, but he too was stopped.
UDC began to surge up the field on counter attacks, but still could not get to the Mercy goal. The Mavericks would put three more chances on target through the 74th minute before the Firebirds finally found a foothold in the match. UDC was able to create three shots on target before time wound down, but none troubled Papas as the veteran cut out every cross and through ball as well to preserve the scoreless tie through the end of regulation.
Both teams came out firing in the first overtime period, but it was UDC that held the edge in efficiency as Papas was forced to make two more saves. The second overtime was less eventful as neither team could put a shot on target, and the foes left with a point each. Papas finished the day with six saves over 110 minutes between the posts.
Head Coach Chris Smith and the Mavericks will need a pair of wins in their remaining games for a chance to secure the #4 seed in the ECC Championship. They will begin their final push hosting Daemen College (4-11-1, 0-7-1) on Friday, Nov. 1 at 2:30 p.m.
