MANCHESTER, N.H. (Sept. 6, 2019) – Despite two goals from graduate student RaeAnn Ioannou (Plainedge, N.Y./Plainedge), the Mercy College women's soccer team dropped a 4-2 decision to Southern New Hampshire University on Friday evening at Penmen Stadium.

The Mavericks (0-1) drop their first season opener since 2015, while the Penmen (1-0) open their season with a win.

Ioannou scored two goals on a team-high four shots. Seniors Trista Seara (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) and Jess Brandt (Folsom, Calif./Folsom) and sophomore Sydney Cooper (Long Beach, Calif./Los Alamitos) added assists. Junior Melissa Torres (La Mirada, Calif./La Mirada) made six saves to take the loss.

Southern New Hampshire received two goals from Jordan Butters and goals from Allyson Patterson and Alexis Fruzzetti. Hannah Rose made two saves to earn the win.

Torres made three early saves in the first half to keep the game scoreless until Ioannou found the back of the net in the 39th minute, off assists from Cooper and Brandt, to put Mercy up 1-0. It remained 1-0 until the final seconds of the first half when Butters scored to send the game into halftime tied at 1-1.

The Penmen took their first lead of the game in the 48th minute when Fruzzetti scored to give the hosts a 2-1 lead. Southern New Hampshire increased the lead to 3-1 in the 62nd minute when Allyson Patterson scored.

Southern New Hampshire made it 4-1 in the 72nd minute when Butters scored her second of the game. Ioannou got the Mavericks closer with her second of the game in the 84th minute, following an assist from Seara, but it was not enough as the Penmen emerged victorious.

Southern New Hampshire held a 21-11 edge in shots and Mercy held a 3-2 edge in corner kicks.

Head Coach Danny Leon Jr. and the Mavericks resume action on Sunday, September 8th when they play American International at Southern New Hampshire at 2 p.m.