NEWARK, Del. (Oct. 30, 2024) – Powered by a hat-trick and an assist from junior Johannes Hanken Tjostheim (Aalesund, Norway/Spring Hill College) and a game-high seven saves from senior Eirik Elvestad (Oslo, Norway/Blindern VGS), the No. 23 Mercy University men's soccer team earned a 4-2 win at Wilmington University on Wednesday afternoon at WU Athletics Complex.
The Mavericks (8-2-5) have won two games in a row and defeat the Wildcats (6-8-2) for the first time since 2010.
Mercy was led by Hanken Tjostheim who had a game-high three goals with one assist. He now has a team-high 20 goals, six assists and 46 points. Senior Antonio Sas (San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina/Alliance University) added his second goal of the season and Elvestad made a game-high seven saves to earn the win. Elvestad recorded his 200th career save in the win, becoming the third Maverick in program history to reach the mark. Freshman Herman Borke (Nesoeya, Norway/Doenski Videregaaende Skole) dished out his second assist of the season and sophomore Marcel Duffau (Santiago, Chile/Dunalastair School) produced his third assist of the year.
Wilmington was led by Michiharu Takanashi and Theo Faillon who both scored. Charlie Phillips made two saves to take the loss.
Elvestad made two early saves before the Wildcats scored the game's first goal in the 27th minute to take a 1-0 lead. Takanashi scored following an Alex Tarway corner kick.
Mercy tied the score at 1-1 in the 43rd minute when Duffau sent a ball from right to left and Hanken Tjostheim flicked the ball over a charging Phillips to tie the game. The score remained tied at 1-1 at halftime.
Hanken Tjostheim gave the Mavericks a 2-1 lead in the 52nd minute following a Borke through ball, finishing off a breakaway attempt. Sas later made it 3-1 in the 56th minute following a cross from Hanken Tjostheim.
A Faillon goal made it 3-2 in the 64th minute before Hanken Tjostheim answered with a breakaway goal just over a minute later to give Mercy a 4-2 lead.
Elvestad made three saves in the final 25 minutes of play to preserve the win, giving Mercy the 4-2 win.
Wilmington held a 24-9 edge in shots and a 9-6 edge in shots on goal. The Wildcats held a 7-1 edge in corner kicks.
Head Coach Pedro Velazquez and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, November 2nd when they host STAC at 12 p.m.
