DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Oct. 5, 2024) – Powered by a game-high two goals 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. 14 Mercy University men's soccer team earned a convincing 5-0 win over ECC foe Roberts Wesleyan University on Saturday afternoon at Mercy Field.
The Mavericks (5-0-3, 3-0-2 ECC) remain unbeaten on the year and in ECC play. Mercy is off to their best start since 2019 when they started 7-0-1. The Mavericks have won two straight meetings against the Redhawks (4-4-1, 2-2 ECC).
Mercy was led by Hanken Tjostheim who recorded a game-high two goals and now has a Division II-best 13 goals on the year. Elvestad made a game-high seven saves to earn his fifth shutout of the season. Junior Mateo Bacigalupo (Buenos Aires, Argentina/Colegio Cardenal Newman) had his third goal of the season and second assist of the year. Junior Nicolás Cerda (Santiago, Chile/Andree English School) netted his first goal of the year and junior Mohamed Souhail (Bologna, Italy/Monroe CC) added his first goal and assist as a Maverick. Senior Franco Acri (Buenos Aires, Argentina/Concord University) dished out his first two assists as a Maverick.
Roberts Wesleyan was led by Archie Murphy who had two shots on goal. Eric Jewson made three saves to take the loss.
Elvestad was forced to make four saves early in the first half to keep the game scoreless. Hanken Tjostheim gave the Mavericks a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute. Hanken Tjostheim had his penalty kick attempt stopped by Jewson but fired home the rebound to give Mercy a 1-0 lead. The Mavericks made it 2-0 in the 41st minute when Hanken Tjostheim headed in an Acri corner kick. Mercy headed into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
Bacigalupo gave the Mavericks a 3-0 lead in the 50th minute and Cerda later made it 4-0, following a through ball from Souhail in the 78th minute. Mercy capped off the scoring in the 84th minute when Acri sent a corner kick to Bacigalupo who played the ball across the goal to Souhail who fired it into the net to give Mercy a 5-0 lead.
The Mavericks backline held Roberts Wesleyan scoreless for the remainder of the game to give Mercy the 5-0 win.
Roberts Wesleyan held a 13-12 edge in shots and shots on goal were tied at 8-8. Mercy held a 5-1 edge in corner kicks.
Head Coach Pedro Velazquez and the Mavericks resume action on Tuesday, October 8th when they host Southern Connecticut State at 2:30 p.m.
