DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Oct. 14, 2024) – The No. 20 Mercy University men's soccer team hosts American International College on Wednesday, October 16th at 2:30 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Wednesday, October 16th 2:30 p.m.
Records: #20 Mercy (5-1-4), American International (0-5-3)
Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. American International
Mercy earned a 0-0 draw at AIC on September 13, 2023.
Scouting the Mavericks
Mercy opens the 2024 season looking to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in six seasons and qualify for the ECC Championship sixth time in seven seasons under ninth-year head coach Pedro Velazquez. The Mavericks went 9-4-5 last season, advancing to the Semifinals of the ECC Championship. Mercy was picked second in the ECC Preseason Poll and senior Eirik Elvestad was named ECC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Velazquez and the Mavericks return five of their top seven scorers from last year and return reigning ECC Defensive Player of the Year senior Julian Holland as well as 2022 ECC Defensive Player of the Year graduate student Benjamin Van Buren. Junior Johannes Hanken Tjostheim returns for the Mavericks after being named United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Region, D2CCA Second Team All-Region and First Team All-ECC. The junior had 13 goals, four assists, 30 points and four game-winning goals last season. Hanken Tjostheim led the team in goals and points and tied for the ECC lead in goals. Junior Mateo Bacigalupo also returns after posting three goals and four assists in 2023. Holland was also named United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Region and D2CCA First Team All-Region a year ago and posted three goals and three assists. Junior Jorgen Krohn-Pettersen and senior Antonio Sas both return after combining for five goals and one assist. Van Buren was named United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Region and D2CCA First Team All-Region in 2022 after netting three goals and six points. Senior Martin Penafiel returns after recording a goal and three assists in 2023 and junior Mathias Schilbred-Eriksen is back after being named Third Team All-ECC a year ago. Schilbred-Eriksen dished out four assists in 17 games in 2023. Elvestad is back in goal for the Mavericks after being named ECC Goalkeeper of the Year for the second straight year. The senior went 9-4-5 in goal last season with 63 saves, a .750 save percentage, 1.18 goals-against average and six shutouts. Elvestad recorded his 100th career save last season and set the school record for career shutouts.
Mercy is coming off a 1-0 loss at Millersville on Saturday. The Mavericks were led by senior Eirik Elvestad who made two saves. Elvestad was named ECC Defensive Player of the Week for a second time last week and Hanken Tjostheim was tabbed to the Honor Roll. Hanken Tjostheim and Holland were named to the ECC Honor Roll on September 30th. Holland was named ECC Defensive Player of the Week on September 23rd and Hanken Tjostheim and Elvestad were tabbed to the Honor Roll. Hanken Tjostheim was named ECC Offensive Player of the Week on September 16th and graduate student Benjamin Van Buren was tabbed Defensive Player of the Week. Elvestad was named to the Honor Roll. Elvestad was named the ECC Defensive Player of the Week on September 9th. Hanken Tjostheim has a team-high 13 goals and 29 points on the year and Bacigalupo has three goals and eight points. Hanken Tjostheim currently is second in the ECC in goals and points. Sophomore Marcel Duffau has a goal and two assists and seniors Juan Jose Alvarez Acosta and junior Mathias Schilbred-Eriksen both have two assists on the year. Senior Martin Penafiel has a team-high-tying three assists on the year. Junior Hugo Martin has three goals, and junior Santiago Serrano has a goal and three assists on the year. Holland has a team-high-tying three assists with one goal and freshman Santiago Dutilh has one assist. Senior Franco Acri has two assists and Souhail has a goal and an assist. Cerda has one goal. Elvestad is 5-1-4 in goal with 42 saves, a 0.50 goals-against average and .894 save percentage with six shutouts. Mercy is ranked No. 20 nationally in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll. The Mavericks are also ranked third in the East Region Poll.
Scouting the Yellow Jackets
AIC is coming off a 2-1 loss at New Haven on October 8th. The Yellow Jackets have had all five of their losses decided by one goal. AIC was picked tied for ninth in the NE10 Preseason Poll after going 3-6-9 last season, advancing to the NE10 Championship Quarterfinals. The Yellow Jackets have been led by Pietro Botasso and Christian Torres who both have two goals and four points. Leo Consoloni has a goal and two assists and Nicholas Chapman has a team-high three assists. Lucas Morales-Fernandez is 0-3-2 in goal with 20 saves, a .741 save percentage and 1.31 goals-against average.
Next Game
Mercy resumes action on Sunday, October 20th when they host Southern N.H. at 1 p.m.
