DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 4, 2021) – Powered by goals from senior Javier Mangado (Logrono, Spain/Wheeling University) and junior Rainiero Salas (Panama City, Panama/Alderson Broaddus University), the RV Mercy College men's soccer team earned a 2-0 victory over Southern Connecticut State University in their home opener on Saturday afternoon at Mercy Field.

The Mavericks (1-1) bounce back from their season-opening loss and are now 11-0-2 in their last 13 home games. The Owls (0-1) open their season with a loss and haven't beaten Mercy since 2017. The win is Head Coach Pedro Velazquez's 50th of his career. His career record now stands at 50-18-7. 

Mangado scored his first goal as a Maverick and Salas added his first goal of the season. Senior Tormod Simonsen (Oslo, Norway/Seton Hill University) added an assist. Graduate student Felipe Baeza (Santiago, Chile/USC Upstate) made two saves to earn his first win as a Maverick.

Southern Connecticut State was led by Alex da Cunha and Zachary Tuccitto who both had a shot on goal. Bailey Bassett made six saves to take the loss.

The Mavericks wasted little time on getting on the scoreboard as Mangado headed in a ball, following a corner by Simonsen, less than a minute in to give Mercy an early 1-0 lead.

Mercy had another good scoring chance in the 44th minute, but a David Breitenbach (Mannheim, Germany/Barton College) shot was stopped by a diving save from Bassett to keep it 1-0 heading into halftime.

The Mavericks forced Bassett to make three more saves in the second half, but would not score again until there was three seconds left. Salas drew a foul in the box and connected on the ensuing penalty kick to give Mercy a 2-0 lead they would not relinquish.

Mercy held a 15-6 edge in shots and a 4-3 advantage in corner kicks.

Head Coach Pedro Velazquez and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, September 8th when they host Adelphi at 3 p.m.