DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 21, 2023) – The Mercy University men's soccer team plays at ECC foe Queens College on Saturday, September 23rd at 7:30 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Saturday, September 23rd 7:30 p.m.
Records: Mercy (3-1-2, 1-0 ECC), Queens (3-2-1, 1-0 ECC)
Location: Flushing, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. Queens
Mercy earned a 3-2 win at Queens on November 3, 2022 in an ECC Semifinal matchup.
Scouting the Mavericks
The Mavericks are coming off a 3-0 win over D'Youville on Saturday. 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 on September 5th and has seven points on three goals and one assist. Senior Carlos Fernandes has been named to the ECC Honor Roll three times and has a team-high nine points on a team-high-tying three goals and three assists. Fernandes scored the game-winning goal in Mercy's win over Southern Connecticut State on September 9th. Bacigalupo has a goal and a team-high-tying three assists on the year and freshman Diego Guzman also has a goal. Elvestad is 3-1-2 in goal with 17 saves, a .773 save percentage and 0.83 goals-against average. The junior was named ECC Defensive Player of the Week on September 11th. The Mavericks are ranked fifth in the latest United Soccer Coaches East Region poll and look to start 2-0 in ECC play for the second straight year. Mercy looks to defeat Queens for the seventh straight time. The Mavericks last lost to Queens in 2015.
Scouting the Knights
Queens is coming off a 5-3 win over Holy Family on Wednesday for their third straight win. The Knights were picked second in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 13-7 last season, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. Queens is currently ranked sixth in the United Soccer Coaches East Region Poll. The Knights have been led by Harry Cooke who has a team-high seven points on three goals and an assist. Adolfo Martinez Paquet has five points on a goal and a team-high three assists and Tommy Gunn has two goals. Leo Pinto has a goal and an assist and Nicolas Cifuentes Diaz and Jose Mendez both have two assists. Juan Cruz Iadino is 3-0 in goal with 12 saves, a .800 save percentage and 1.14 goals-against average and Jake Balme is 0-2-1 in goal with 13 saves, a .684 save percentage and 1.78 goals-against average.
Next Game
Mercy resumes action on Wednesday, September 27th when they host Staten Island at 12 p.m.
