BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Aug. 31, 2018) – Powered by the game-winning goal in the 67th minute from freshman Anicia Reyes (San Diego, Calif./Santana), off an assist from senior Corinna Ferrante (Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford), the No. 3 Mercy College women's soccer team opened up their 2018 season with a 1-0 victory over No. 24 Southern New Hampshire University on Friday afternoon at Knights Field.

The Mavericks (1-0) win their season opener in Head Coach Jim O'Brien's debut, while the Penmen (0-1) drop their second straight matchup to Mercy.

Reyes also had two shots on goal and Ferrante had two shots. Freshman Claudia McKail (Santa Clarita, Calif./Canyon) and sophomore Kaitlyn Denning (Peoria, Ariz./Mountain Ridge) also had a shot on goal. Sophomore goalkeeper Melissa Torres (La Mirada, Calif./La Mirada) made three saves to post a shutout.

Shae Roys led Southern New Hampshire with two shots on goal and Hannah Rose made three saves to take the loss.

In a rematch of the 2017 NCAA Tournament Second Round, the Mavericks recorded the game's first shot on goal in the 8th minute when McKail forced Rose to make a stop.

That would be the only shot on goal for the half until Danielle Humphreys made Torres come up with a save in the 37th minute to keep the score at 0-0 heading into halftime.

Denning opened the second half with a shot on goal less than two minutes in, but Rose made the stop to keep the game scoreless. Mercy finally broke through in the 67th minute when Ferrante fed a thru ball in the middle of the box to Reyes who found the back of the net to put the Mavericks up 1-0.

Torres would make two more saves to keep the Penmen off the scoreboard, giving Mercy the 1-0 season-opening win.

Mercy held a 7-5 edge in shots and a 3-1 advantage in corner kicks.

Head Coach Jim O'Brien and the Mavericks resume action on Sunday, September 2nd when they play American International at 6 p.m. at Bridgeport.