DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 6, 2022) – The RV Mercy College men's soccer team hosts American International College on Wednesday, September 7th at 3 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Wednesday, September 7th 3 p.m.
Records: Mercy (2-1-1), RV American International (1-1-2)
Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Last Meeting
American International earned a 1-0 win over Mercy on September 2, 2021.
Scouting the Mavericks
Mercy is coming off a 3-1 loss at Southern Connecticut State on Saturday. The Mavericks were led by freshman Nicolás Cerda who had a goal and by freshman Mathias Schilbred-Eriksen who had an assist. Freshman Simon Steffensen made two saves to take the loss. Mercy is 2-3-1 in their last six games against AIC and is looking for their first win over the Yellow Jackets since 2016. Senior Benjamin Van Buren has a team-high-tying two goals on the season and was named ECC Defensive Player of the Week last week. He scored the game-winning goal in the 88th minute of Mercy's season-opening win over Saint Rose on August 25th. Cerda also has a team-high-tying two goals in his first season as a Maverick. 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 last week. 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 sophomore Martin Penafiel and Schilbred-Eriksen both have an assist. Sophomore Eirik Elvestad is 1-0-1 in goal with three saves, a .429 save percentage and 2.00 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 junior Daniel 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 Yellow Jackets
AIC earned a 1-1 tie against UDC in their last game on Saturday. The Yellow Jackets lone win came against Bridgeport on August 31st. AIC opened their season with a 1-0 loss to Post on August 25th before earning a 1-1 tie against Wilmington on August 27th. The Yellow Jackets were picked second in the NE10 Preseason Coaches' Poll after going 15-5-1 last season, advancing to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. AIC has been led by graduate student Dirk Doppen who has a team-high two goals on the year. Freshman Gianfranco Lopreiato has a goal and an assist and freshman Christian Amaral, and sophomore Simba Pelletier also have goals. Freshmen Leonard Riby-Williams and Sean Menacho and graduate student Samir Regragui also have assists on the year. Sophomore Lucas Morales-Fernandez is 1-1-2 in goal with 14 saves, a .737 save percentage and 1.25 goals-against average.
Next Game
Mercy resumes action on Saturday, September 10th when they play at Daemen at 1:30 p.m.
