DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 12, 2022) – The RV Mercy College men's soccer team hosts Jefferson University on Wednesday, September 14th at 3 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Wednesday, September 14th 3 p.m.
Records: RV Mercy (4-1-1), Jefferson (2-3)
Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Last Meeting
Mercy earned a 1-0 win at Jefferson on October 19, 2021.
Scouting the Mavericks
Mercy is coming off a 1-0 win at Daemen in their ECC opener on Saturday. The Mavericks were led by senior Vasco Baptista who scored the game-winning goal in the 86th minute. Mercy looks to get off to their best start since 2019 when they started 6-0-1. The Mavericks are 4-3-1 against the Rams in their last eight meetings dating back to 2009 but have won the last three meetings. Mercy was also receiving votes nationally in the United Soccer Coaches Poll last week. Freshman Nicolás Cerda was named ECC Rookie of the Week last week after scoring two goals. Cerda and one-time ECC Defensive Player of the Week senior Benjamin Van Buren have a team-high-tying two goals on the season. Van Buren scored the game-winning goal in the 88th minute of Mercy's season-opening win over Saint Rose on August 25th. Freshman Mateo Bacigalupo has one goal on the season, recording the game-winning goal in Mercy's win over New Haven on August 28th. He was named to the ECC Honor Roll on August 29th. Junior Daniel Rodriguez has a team-high five points on the year on a goal and a team-high three assists. Junior Carlos Fernandes has a goal and an assist on the year and Schilbred-Eriksen is second on the team with two assists. Sophomore Martin Penafiel also has an assist. Baptista recorded his first collegiate goal in the win over Daemen on Saturday. Sophomore Eirik Elvestad is 3-0-1 in goal with four saves, a .500 save percentage and 1.00 goals-against average. Freshman Simon Steffensen is 1-1 in net with seven saves, a .700 save percentage and 1.50 goals-against average. Mercy enters the 2022 season looking to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four seasons and qualify for the ECC Championship for the fourth time in five seasons under seventh-year head coach Pedro Velazquez. The Mavericks went 9-5-2 last season and missed qualifying for the ECC Championship due to a tiebreaker. Mercy has posted a winning record in each of Velazquez's five seasons as head coach. The Mavericks are looking to win their first ECC Championship since 2019 and were picked third in the ECC Preseason Poll. Mercy's leading returning scorer is Dalmau who had nine points on four goals and one assist in 2021. Senior David Breitenbach also returns after posting two goals and three assists. Penafiel returns after recording two goals and two assists and Van Buren and Kevin Aguilar return on defense.
Scouting the Rams
Jefferson earned a 3-0 win over Dominican in their CACC opener on Friday. The Rams opened their season with a win over West Chester before dropping three straight games to Le Moyne, Shippensburg, and Queens. Jefferson was picked sixth in the CACC Preseason Poll after going 6-9-2 last season, falling in the CACC Championship Quarterfinals. The Rams have been led by Mateo Infante and Diego Guzman who both have a team-high two goals. Infante has a team-high five points and Theophilus Ijeboi has three points on a goal and an assist. Juan Bahena 2-3 in goal with 25 saves, a .758 save percentage and 1.60 goals-against average.
Next Game
Mercy resumes action on Saturday, September 17th when they host D'Youville at 12 p.m.
