DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Oct. 3, 2024) – The No. 14 Mercy University men's soccer team hosts ECC foe Roberts Wesleyan University on Saturday, October 5th at 12 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Saturday, October 5th 12 p.m.
Records: #14 Mercy (4-0-3, 2-0-2 ECC), Roberts Wesleyan (4-3-1, 2-1 ECC)
Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. Roberts Wesleyan
Mercy earned a 6-2 win over Roberts Wesleyan on September 30, 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 2-2 draw at Molloy on Wednesday. The Mavericks were led by juniors Johannes Hanken Tjostheim and Hugo Martin who both scored. Hanken Tjostheim and Holland were named to the ECC Honor Roll on Monday. Holland was named ECC Defensive Player of the Week last week and Hanken Tjostheim and senior Eirik 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 11 goals and 24 points on the year and Bacigalupo has two goals and five points. Hanken Tjostheim currently leads the ECC in goals and points. The junior is also tied for first in Division II in goals and is second in points. Hanken Tjostheim leads Division II in points per game (3.43) and goals per game (1.57). 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. Martin has three goals, and 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. Elvestad is 4-0-3 in goal with 30 saves, a 0.57 goals-against average and .892 save percentage with four shutouts. Mercy is ranked No. 14 nationally in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll. The Mavericks are also ranked second in the East Region Poll. Mercy is 7-2-2 all-time against Roberts Wesleyan and haven't lost to the Redhawks since 2018.
Scouting the Redhawks
Roberts Wesleyan is coming off a 2-1 win at Daemen on Wednesday. The Redhawks were picked fifth in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 5-6-4 last season. Roberts Wesleyan is led by Myles Palmer who has a team-high nine goals and 18 points with two game-winning goals. Tamas Nagy has seven goals and 15 points and Jack Hopson, Luke Hanes and Conlan McCoy each have a team-high two assists. Eric Jewson is 3-0 in goal with four saves, a .800 save percentage and 0.33 goals-against average. Caleb DaSilva is 1-3-1 in goal with 28 saves, a .683 save percentage and 2.72 goals-against average.
Next Game
Mercy resumes action on Tuesday, October 8th when they host Southern Connecticut State at 2:30 p.m.
