WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 16, 2017) – Despite two shots on goal from senior Ericson Penate(Reseda, Calif./LA Mission JC), the Mercy College men's soccer team dropped a 5-0 decision to the University of the District of Columbia in their ECC opener on Saturday afternoon at UDC Field.

The Mavericks (3-3, 0-1 ECC) fall to .500 on the year, while the Firebirds (4-2, 1-0 ECC) have won three games in a row.

Penate recorded his first two shots on goal of the season and senior Kwantarian Van der Lara(Stockholm, Sweden/Marshalltown CC) made four saves to take the loss.

UDC received two goals apiece from Gabriel Torres and Kelvin Hererra, while Victor Furio also scored. Luis Aguirre played the first half in net and made two saves to earn the win.

The contest remained 0-0 early on as Van der Lara made two saves in the first 14 minutes of action. The Firebirds finally broke the scoreless draw in the 18th minute when Torres scored off a direct kick from 25 yards out to give UDC a 1-0 lead.

The Mavericks responded with their best scoring chance as Penate hit the crossbar and forced Aguirre to make a save, but the score stayed at 1-0. Hererra made it 2-0 in the 25th minute when he scored off a pass from Torres.

UDC continued to control the action and added on another tally in the 30th minute when Hererra scored again after a cross from Raphael Pacano, making it 3-0. The Firebirds recorded two more goals in the half to take a 5-0 lead at halftime. UDC held the Mavericks without a shot on goal in the second half and came away with the win.

UDC held a 17-12 edge in shots, while Mercy maintained a 7-6 advantage in corner kicks.

Head Coach Pedro Velazquez and the Mavericks look to bounce back when they play at Felician on Wednesday, September 20th at 8:15 p.m.