DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 15, 2023) – The Mercy University men's soccer team plays at D'Youville University on Saturday, September 16th at 2:30 p.m. in their ECC opener.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Saturday, September 16th 2:30 p.m.
Records: Mercy (2-1-2, 0-0 ECC), D'Youville (0-4, 0-1 ECC)
Location: Buffalo, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. D'Youville
Mercy earned a 3-0 win over D'Youville on September 17, 2022 in Dobbs Ferry.
Scouting the Mavericks
The Mavericks are coming off a 0-0 draw at American International on Wednesday. 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 was named ECC Offensive Player of the Week last Monday and has a team-high seven points on three goals and one assist. Senior Carlos Fernandes has been named to the ECC Honor Roll twice and has a team-high three assists. Fernandes scored the game-winning goal in Mercy's win over Southern Connecticut State on Saturday. Bacigalupo has a goal and an assist on the year and Elvestad is 2-1-2 in goal with 16 saves, a .762 save percentage and 1.00 goals-against average. The junior was named ECC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. The Mavericks are ranked fifth in the latest United Soccer Coaches East Region poll and look to improve to 3-0 all-time against the Saints. Mercy looks to win their ECC opener for the fifth straight season.
Scouting the Saints
D'Youville is coming off an 8-0 loss at Roberts Wesleyan on Wednesday. The Saints were picked ninth in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 1-14 last season. D'Youville has been led by Ethan Robinson who has a team-high one goal and two points. Finn Savage has an assist and Jake Marks is 0-4 with 30 saves, a .536 save percentage and 6.86 goals-against average.
Next Game
Mercy resumes action on Saturday, September 23rd when they play at Queens at 7:30 p.m.
