Serna Scores Twice to Lead Women's Soccer to 3-1 Victory Over Southern Connecticut State in Season Opener
Box Score NEW HAVEN, Conn. (Sept. 2, 2016) – Led by two first-half goals from junior Heidi Serna (West Covina, Calif./South Hills), the Mercy College women's soccer team opened up its 2016 season with a 3-1 non-conference victory over Southern Connecticut State University on Friday night at Jess Dow Field.
The Mavericks (1-0) pick up their first season-opening win since the 2014 season, while the Owls (0-1) start their 2016 season with a loss.
Serna recorded her two goals on a game high four shots on goal, while freshman Jessica Brandt (Folsom, Calif./Folsom) scored a goal in her first collegiate game. Sophomore Haley Noble (Torrance, Calif./Torrance) and freshman Dominique Banks (San Diego, Calif./Helix Charter) each added an assist and junior goalkeeper Ashley Price (Goodyear, Ariz./Millennium) made five saves to pick up the win in net.
Caroline Staudle scored the lone goal of the game for the hosts. Erica Ridella made the start in net and played the first half with two goals allowed to earn the loss.
Serna came out strong for the Mavericks, forcing Ridella to make a save in the 9th minute of action. Redshirt freshman RaeAnn Ioannou (Bethpage, N.Y./Plainedge) fired Mercy's second shot on goal in the 28th minute but Ridella was up to the challenge and the game remained 0-0.
After nearly 32 minutes of scoreless action, Serna broke through with her first of the season on a low shot off a loose ball to give the Mavericks a 1-0 lead. Mercy continued to apply pressure to the Owls backline before Serna took a pass from the right side from Noble and shot the ball from the middle of the box past the goalkeeper to make it 2-0 with under two minutes left before halftime.
The score remained 2-0 in favor of the Mavericks as the two teams headed into halftime. Mercy held a 7-4 edge in shots in the opening half.
The second stanza saw Southern Connecticut force Price to make a save early on, but Brandt followed with her first goal as a Maverick in the 52nd minute to make it 3-0. The freshman received a ball from the right from Banks and fired the shot from the right side of the box past the goalie to give Mercy a commanding lead.
The Owls responded by forcing Price to make four saves before avoiding the shutout with a goal in the 89th minute to make it 3-1. Southern Connecticut outshot Mercy 12-6 in the second half to end the game with a 16-13 advantage in shots. The Mavericks ended the contest with three corner kicks compared to two for the Owls.
Head Coach Jonathan Feinstein and the Mavericks will look to build off the win as they play Southern New Hampshire on Sunday, September 4th at 11 a.m. at Southern Connecticut State.
