DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 2, 2021) – The Mercy College women's soccer team opens up their 2021 season on Friday, September 3rd when they face Southern Connecticut State at Bridgeport at 4 p.m. Mercy concludes the weekend playing American International on Sunday, September 5th at 3 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Friday, September 3rd 4 p.m.
Records (2019): Mercy (13-3-4), Southern Connecticut State (10-7-4)
Location: Bridgeport, Conn. (University of Bridgeport)
Date/Time: Sunday, September 5th 3 p.m.
Records (2019): Mercy (13-3-4), American International (8-9-3)
Location: Bridgeport, Conn. (University of Bridgeport)
Last Meeting vs. Southern Connecticut
The teams last met on October 12, 2019 with Mercy earning a 2-0 win in Dobbs Ferry.
Last Meeting vs. AIC
Mercy earned a 2-1 victory on September 8, 2019 at Southern New Hampshire.
Scouting the Mavericks
Mercy is playing their first game in 647 days after not playing during the 2020-21 academic year due to COVID-19. 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 senior Sydney Cooper who was named Third Team All-Region and First Team All-ECC in 2019 after recording four goals and two assists. Graduate student Melissa 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 Alexa 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 graduate student Nikki 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 Owls
Southern Connecticut was picked eighth in the NE10 Coaches' Poll after making a run to the NE10 title game as the No. 7 seed in 2019. The Owls return goalkeeper Allie Smith who led the NE10 in save percentage (.847) in 2019 and Kaitlyn D'Amico who was named Third Team All-Conference and the team's top goal and point scorer in 2019. Nadine Hilkert was named First Team All-Conference in 2019 after starting all 21 games in 2019.
Scouting the Yellow Jackets
AIC was picked seventh in the NE10 Coaches' Poll after advancing to the NE10 Semifinals in 2019. Leading the returners for the Yellow Jackets is Tamara Zippin who made 60 saves and had a 1.17 goals against average in 15 games in 2019. Trystin Burger was named to the NE10 All-Rookie Team in 2019 after scoring four goals. Caroline Porter also returns after scoring twice in 15 games.
Next Game
Mercy resumes action on Thursday, September 9th when they play at Adelphi at 7 p.m.
