DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Oct. 17, 2021) – The Mercy College women's soccer team plays at Holy Family on Monday, October 18th at 3:30 p.m.

Who, When and Where

Date/Time: Monday, October 18th 3:30 p.m.

Records: Mercy (6-2-4), Holy Family (8-2-2)

Location: Philadelphia, Pa.

Last Meeting vs. Holy Family

Mercy earned a 2-1 overtime win over Holy Family on September 24, 2019.

Scouting the Mavericks

Mercy is coming off a 1-0 loss to Molloy on Saturday that snapped a seven-game unbeaten streak. Senior Melissa Torres made a game-high four saves in the contest. The Mavericks have won each of the last four meetings against the Tigers. Mercy has not lost two games in a row since 2016. Graduate student Nikki Bermudez has a team-high five goals on the year and has been named to the ECC Honor Roll four times. She currently ranks third in the ECC in goals. Sophomore Madison Rosa has an ECC-best five assists with seven points on the year. Senior Claudia McKail also has seven points on the year with three goals and one assist. McKail was tabbed to the ECC Honor Roll on October 4th. Junior Alexa Billingham and sophomore Kayla Camacho have five points apiece on two goals and one assist. Junior Dominique Bono and sophomore Skyler Schwenkler have two goals and seniors Sydney Cooper and Jessica Hoyt both have a goal and two assists on the year. Cooper was named to the ECC Honor Roll on September 13th after scoring the game-tying goal against Adelphi on September 9th. Senior Melissa Torres is 5-2-4 in goal with 28 saves, five shutouts and a .824 save percentage. Torres was named ECC Defensive Player of the Week on October 4th and was named to the ECC Honor Roll last Tuesday. She has an ECC-best 0.52 goals against average and set a school record with her 25th career shutout against Bridgeport on September 29th. Senior Veronica Scruggs made the start in goal against Lincoln on October 9th and made two saves to earn her first shutout win.

Mercy is currently ranked sixth in the United Soccer Coaches East Region poll released on October 12th. The Mavericks went 13-3-4 in 2019 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year. Mercy has made five NCAA Tournament appearances since 2013 and has made the ECC Tournament in seven straight seasons. The Mavericks were picked first in the ECC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Third-year Head Coach Danny Leon Jr. has 10 returners from the 2019 team and has 13 student-athletes who will see their first game action as Mavericks during the 2021 season. Leading the returners is Cooper who was named Third Team All-Region and First Team All-ECC in 2019 after recording four goals and two assists. Torres returns in goal after receiving Second Team All-Region and ECC Goalkeeper of the Year honors in 2019. Senior Fernanda Castro also returns after taking home First Team All-Region and First Team All-ECC accolades in 2019. Also returning from the 2019 team are seniors Veronica Scruggs, Hoyt, McKail and Juliana Conforti and juniors Carli LoNigro, Tyra Anderson and Billingham. Seeing their first game action as Mavericks after practicing with the team last year are Rosa, Camacho, Marlene Avalos, Schwenkler, Jennifer Silva, Toni Valadez, Alisa Jensen and Genesis Vargas. Making up the freshmen class are Kayla Saavedra, Stacy Avendano and Elizabeth Bowles. Leon Jr. also adds two transfers in Bermudez and Bono from New York Tech. Bermudez was named Second Team All-ECC and First Team All-ECAC in 2019 at New York Tech.

Scouting the Tigers

Holy Family is coming off a 2-1 win over Post on Saturday. The Tigers only two losses this season have come to Assumption and Bridgeport. The Tigers were picked second in the CACC Coaches' Poll after going 5-1-1 during the spring 2021 season and 8-9-1 in 2019. Holy Family is currently ranked ninth in the latest United Soccer Coaches East Region poll. Holy Family has scored just 16 goals in their 12 games, but have surrendered just eight goals. The Tigers are led by Jacqueline Ziegler who has a team-high 12 points on three goals and six assists. Maura Kilkenny and Brenna McCarry both rank second on the team with five points by way of two goals and an assist. Alyssa Hooten and Carly Nothnagel both have two goals. In goal, Holy Family is led by Alayna McSeed who is 8-2-2 in goal with 57 saves, a .891 save percentage and six shutouts.

Next Game

Mercy resumes action on Friday, October 22nd when they host Queens at 11 a.m.