DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 25, 2023) – The Mercy University men's soccer team hosts ECC foe College of Staten Island on Wednesday, September 27th at 12 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Wednesday, September 27th 12 p.m.
Records: Mercy (4-1-2, 2-0 ECC), Staten Island (2-3-1, 0-1 ECC)
Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. Staten Island
Mercy earned a 0-0 tie at Staten Island on October 15, 2022.
Scouting the Mavericks
The Mavericks earned a 3-1 win over regionally-ranked Queens 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 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 two goals and a team-high-tying three assists on the year and freshman Diego Guzman and Silva also have a goal. Elvestad is 4-1-2 in goal with 23 saves, a .793 save percentage and 0.86 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 on Monday after scoring the game-winning goal against Queens. The Mavericks are ranked fifth in the latest United Soccer Coaches East Region poll and look to start 3-0 in ECC play for the second straight year. Mercy is 5-0-1 all-time against Staten Island. The Mavericks are unbeaten in their last seven ECC regular season home games. Mercy last lost an ECC home regular season game on September 29, 2021 to Bridgeport.
Scouting the Dolphins
Staten Island is coming off a 3-1 loss at Daemen in their ECC opener on Saturday. The Dolphins were picked eighth in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 4-11-2 last season. Staten Island is led by junior Miguel Espinosa who has a team-high eight points on a team-high four goals. Junior Raul Naranjo leads the team with two assists and has a goal. Senior Daniel Angulo is second on the team with two goals and sophomore Amari Thompson is 2-1-1 in goal with 19 saves, a .731 save percentage and 1.49 goals-against average.
Next Game
Mercy resumes action on Saturday, September 30th when they play at Roberts Wesleyan at 3:30 p.m.
