DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 29, 2023) – The Mercy University men's soccer team plays at ECC foe Roberts Wesleyan University on Saturday, September 30th at 3:30 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Saturday, September 30th 3:30 p.m.
Records: Mercy (4-1-3, 2-0-1 ECC), Roberts Wesleyan (3-3-3, 2-0-1 ECC)
Location: Rochester, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. Roberts Wesleyan
Mercy earned a 1-1 draw against Roberts Wesleyan on October 29, 2022 in Dobbs Ferry.
Scouting the Mavericks
The Mavericks earned a 0-0 draw on Wednesday against Staten Island 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 4-1-3 in goal with 24 saves, a .800 save percentage and 0.75 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 fourth in the latest United Soccer Coaches East Region poll and are receiving votes nationally in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll. Mercy is 6-2-2 all-time against Roberts Wesleyan and have tied each of the last two meetings. The Mavericks last lost to Roberts Wesleyan in 2018.
Scouting the Redhawks
Roberts Wesleyan is coming off a 1-0 win at Molloy on Wednesday. The Redhawks were picked fourth in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 11-5-6 last season, qualifying for the ECC Championship. Roberts Wesleyan is led by ECC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Tamas Nagy who has an ECC-best seven goals and 17 points with three assists. Toby Balaam has two goals and an assist and Myles Palmer has two goals. Caleb DaSilva is 3-2-3 in goal with 34 saves, a .829 save percentage and 0.91 goals-against average.
Next Game
Mercy resumes action on Wednesday, October 4th when they host Millersville at 3 p.m.
