BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Sept. 3, 2021) – Powered by the game-winning goal in the 38th minute from graduate student Nikki Bermudez (Oceanside, N.Y./New York Tech) in her Mercy debut, off an assist from junior Alexa Billingham (Nesconset, N.Y./Sachem North), the Mercy College women's soccer team opened their 2021 season with a 1-0 victory over Southern Connecticut State University on Friday afternoon at Knights Field.

The Mavericks (1-0) win their season opener for the first time since 2018 and defeat the Owls (0-1) for the fifth straight time.

Bermudez, a New York Tech transfer, scored her first goal as a Maverick. Billingham added her second career assist and graduate student Melissa Torres (La Mirada, Calif./La Mirada) made two saves to earn the shutout win.

Southern Connecticut was led by Nadine Hilkert and Georgia Teixeira who each had a shot on goal. Allie Smith allowed one goal to take the loss.

In a contest that had a combined eight shots, Mercy broke through with the game's lone goal in the 38th minute to take a 1-0 lead. Billingham fed Bermudez who fired the ball to the lower left corner to put Mercy ahead. The score remained 1-0 heading into halftime.

Torres made a save in the 74th minute, but the Owls would not get another shot on goal, giving Mercy the season-opening win.

Mercy held a 5-3 edge in shots and 4-1 advantage in corner kicks.

Head Coach Danny Leon Jr. and the Mavericks resume action on Sunday, September 5th when they play AIC at Bridgeport at 3 p.m.