DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Oct. 8, 2022) – Powered by a goal from senior Vasco Baptista (Alges, Portugal/Escola Secudaria Miraflores) and five saves from sophomore Eirik Elvestad (Oslo, Norway/Blindern VGS), the No. 24 Mercy College men's soccer team earned a 1-1 draw with ECC foe St. Thomas Aquinas College on Saturday afternoon at Mercy Field.

The Mavericks (9-2-2, 4-1-1 ECC) remain unbeaten in their last three games and pick up their first draw of the year in ECC play. The defending ECC Regular Season Champion Spartans (4-4-4, 0-2-3 ECC) record their third tie in ECC play this season.

Baptista recorded his third goal of the season and Elvestad made five saves.

St. Thomas Aquinas was led by Jorge Umana who scored and by Tabor McDaniels who made six saves.

Both goalkeepers made two early saves in the first half and senior Benjamin Van Buren (Anderson, S.C./USC Upstate) prevented a Spartan goal in the 34th minute. The Mavericks recorded the final two shots on goal in the half, but neither team would score in the opening half.

Mercy broke through with the game's first goal in the 49th minute to make it 1-0. Following a Spartan foul in the box, Baptista connected on the penalty kick to give the Mavericks the lead.

The score remained 1-0 until the 81st minute when Umana found the back of the net on a penalty kick after a Mercy foul in the box to make it 1-1.

Each team recorded a shot on goal in the final nine minutes, but neither could find the go-ahead goal, ending the game in a 1-1 draw.

Mercy held a 21-16 edge in shots and shots on goal were tied at 7-7. Mercy held a 9-4 edge in corner kicks.

Head Coach Pedro Velazquez and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, October 15th when they play at Staten Island at 2 p.m.