DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Oct. 2, 2023) – The RV Mercy University men's soccer team hosts Millersville University on Wednesday, October 4th at 3 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Wednesday, October 4th 3 p.m.
Records: RV Mercy (5-1-3), Millersville (5-1-3)
Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. Millersville
Mercy earned a 4-1 win at Millersville on September 14, 2019.
Scouting the Mavericks
The Mavericks earned a 6-2 win over Roberts Wesleyan on Saturday in their last game. Mercy opens the 2023 season looking to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in five seasons and qualify for the ECC Championship for the fifth time in six seasons under eighth-year head coach Pedro Velazquez. The Mavericks went 12-3-5 last season winning their fifth ECC Championship and advancing to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. Mercy returns three of their top five goal scorers and eight student-athletes who started at least 10 matches in 2022. The Mavericks were picked first in the ECC Preseason Poll and return their leading goal scorer from last year in Third Team All-ECC selection junior Luis Silva who had six goals and two assists last season. Second Team All-ECC recipient senior Daniel Rodriguez also returns after starting 19 games last season with four goals and five assists. Sophomore Mateo Bacigalupo returns after scoring three goals in his freshman campaign. Third Team All-ECC honoree junior Martin Penafiel netted two goals and two assists last season and ECC Preseason Defensive Co-Player of the Year junior Eirik Elvestad returns in goal after going 11-2-5 last season with 64 saves, a .790 save percentage and 0.95 goals-against average. He was named ECC Co-Goalkeeper of the Year and All-Region last season. Returning on defense is reigning ECC Rookie of the Year sophomore Mathias Schilbred-Eriksen who had six assists last season. Sophomore Johannes Hanken Tjostheim has been named ECC Offensive Player of the Week twice and has a team-high 13 points on a team-high six goals with one assist. Senior Carlos Fernandes has been named to the ECC Honor Roll three times and is second on the team with 10 points on three goals and a team-high four assists. Fernandes scored the game-winning goal in Mercy's win over Southern Connecticut State on September 9th. Bacigalupo has three goals and three assists on the year and freshman Diego Guzman and Silva also have a goal. Junior Julian Holland has two goals and an assist on the year and was named ECC Co-Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. Graduate student Phillimon Bédard-Khalid has two assists and sophomore Nicolás Cerda and Penafiel each have an assist. Elvestad is 5-1-3 in goal with 25 saves, a .758 save percentage and 0.90 goals-against average. The junior has been named the ECC Defensive Player of the Week twice and recorded his 100th career save at Queens on Saturday. Silva was named to the ECC Honor Roll last week after scoring the game-winning goal against Queens. The Mavericks were ranked fourth in the latest United Soccer Coaches East Region poll and are receiving votes nationally in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll released last week.
Scouting the Marauders
Millersville is coming off a 1-1 draw against Bloomsburg on Saturday after suffering their first loss of the season on Wednesday against West Chester. The Marauders were picked third in the PSAC East Preseason Poll after going 10-3-5 last season. Millersville is ranked seventh in the latest United Soccer Coaches Atlantic Region poll. The Marauders are led by Bob Hennessey who has a team-high nine points on a team-high four goals with one assist. Zander Leik has three goals and two assists and Michael Dempsey has two goals and two assists. Roy Parkyn has a team-high three assists and Travis Holiday is 4-1-2 in goal with 20 saves, a .800 save percentage and 0.71 goals-against average.
Next Game
Mercy resumes action on Saturday, October 7th when they play at St. Thomas Aquinas at 2 p.m.
