DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 16, 2021) – The Mercy College women's soccer team hosts Staten Island in their ECC opener on Saturday, September 18th at 12 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Saturday, September 18th 12 p.m.
Records: Mercy (1-1-2, 0-0 ECC), Staten Island (1-4, 0-0 ECC)
Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. Staten Island
Saturday's matchup is the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
Scouting the Mavericks
Mercy is coming off a 2-1 loss to Wilmington on Wednesday in their home opener. Junior Alexa Billingham scored her first collegiate goal in the game and also has an assist on the year to lead the team with three points on the year. Senior Sydney Cooper scored the game-tying goal against Adelphi in the second half last Thursday and was named to the ECC Honor Roll on Monday of this week. Graduate student Nikki Bermudez scored the game-winning goal in Mercy's win over Southern Connecticut to begin the season on September 3rd. Senior Melissa Torres is 1-1-2 in goal with 13 saves, two shutouts and a .813 save percentage. Bermudez and Torres were both named to the ECC Honor Roll last week. Mercy is currently ranked fifth in the United Soccer Coaches East Region poll. 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, Jessica Hoyt, Claudia 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 sophomores Madison Rosa, Kayla Camacho, Marlene Avalos, Skyler 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 junior Dominique 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 Dolphins
Staten Island dropped a 5-0 decision to Post on Wednesday. The Dolphins earned their lone win of the season on September 8th with a 2-1 win over Felician. Staten Island was picked eighth in the ECC Coaches' Poll and is playing their first season in the ECC after transitioning from Division III. The Dolphins went 6-7-1 in their last season in 2019 as members of the CUNYAC. Freshmen Emily Albano and Nadia Evola have scored the two goals for Staten Island this season. Evola scored the game-winning goal against Felician. Freshmen Jenna Como and Betine Voigt-Pentzen have dished out assists and freshman Sara Villacres is 1-1 with a team-high 19 saves in goal.
Next Game
Mercy resumes action on Tuesday, September 21st when they play at St. Thomas Aquinas at 2 p.m.
