DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 8, 2021) – Powered by a goal and an assist from juniors Matthias Kuhn (Viernheim, Germany/University of Mannheim) and Rainiero Salas (Panama City, Panama/Alderson Broaddus University), the Mercy College men's soccer team earned an impressive 3-1 win over perennial East Region power Adelphi University on Wednesday afternoon at Mercy Field.
The Mavericks (2-1) have won two games in a row and defeat the Panthers (0-2-1) for the first time. Adelphi entered the season ranked No. 15 nationally and was ranked No. 1 nationally during the 2019 season.
Kuhn had his first goal and assist of the season and Salas netted his second goal of the year and first assist. Senior Archie Jones (London, England/Northbridge) scored his first goal of the season and graduate student Felipe Baeza (Santiago, Chile/USC Upstate) made one save to earn the win.
Adelphi was led by Rodrigo Descalzo Rocca who scored. Benji Jones and Paolo Marciano had assists and Harry Beasley made four saves to take the loss.
In a matchup of two of the top teams in the East Region, the first half saw limited scoring chances with Adelphi recording the lone shot in the half.
The game remained scoreless until the 50th minute when Descalzo Rocca scored after a shot by Jones was stopped by a Mercy defender to make it 1-0.
The Mavericks battled back and tied the game in the 56th minute when Salas capitalized off an Adelphi turnover to make it 1-1. Salas dribbled the ball from 35 yards out to the top of the box and fired the ball into the back of the net to even the score.
Mercy wasted little time in taking the lead as they scored just over a minute later, following a corner, to take a 2-1 lead. Salas took the corner and Kuhn knocked the ball into the net while falling down to give Mercy their first lead.
It remained 2-1 until the 89th minute when Kuhn fired a free kick from beyond midfield to an open Jones who finished to give the Mavericks a 3-1 lead they would not relinquish.
Mercy held an 11-7 edge in shots and a 6-3 edge in corner kicks.
Head Coach Pedro Velazquez and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, September 15th when they host Saint Rose at 3 p.m.
