DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Nov. 4, 2024) – The No. 4 seeded Mercy University women's soccer team hosts No. 5 seeded Roberts Wesleyan University in the First Round of the ECC Women's Soccer Championship on Thursday, November 7th at 1 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Thursday, November 7th 1 p.m.
Records: #4 Mercy (9-7-2, 4-3 ECC), #5 Roberts Wesleyan (5-9-1, 3-4 ECC)
Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Championship Central
Tickets
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
All Games
$10 – General Admission for adults
$5 – Students w/ID, Senior Citizens and Children 5 and Up
Children under 5 are free of charge
*Tickets must be purchased at the link above. Cash will not be accepted so walkup tickets at the venue still must be purchased through the ECC website (QR code will be available at the gate).
Last Meeting vs. Roberts Wesleyan
Mercy earned a 2-1 win over Roberts Wesleyan on October 5, 2024.
Scouting the Mavericks
The Mavericks earned a 2-0 Senior Day win over STAC on Saturday to secure the No. 4 seed in the ECC Championship. Freshman Ana Polychroniades and sophomore Ella Gallino scored. Mercy is coming off a season in which they went 9-5-3 and advanced to the Semifinals of the ECC Championship. The Mavericks look to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in seven seasons and make the ECC Championship for the 11th straight season. Mercy was picked third in the ECC Preseason Poll and senior Skyler Schwenkler was tabbed ECC Preseason Defensive Player of the Week. Leading the returners for head coach Jack Nicholson is Schwenkler who was named D2CCA Second Team All-Region and First Team All-ECC last season after starting all 17 games with three assists in 1,444 minutes. Junior Ancksu Dixon also returns after being named United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-Region and First Team All-ECC after recording five goals, three assists and 13 points. She led the team in points and tied for the team lead in goals and assists. Also returning is junior Maleah Tarin who was named Second Team All-ECC after recording four goals and nine points. Senior Amiah Washington also returns after tying for the team lead with five goals in 2023. Sophomore Angelina Ortiz is back in the fold after scoring three goals as a freshman last season and senior Isabella Messina and junior Rita-Marie Masi return on the backline after leading a defense that allowed 16 goals in 17 games. Nicholson also adds 10 newcomers to the squad that looks to help get the Mavericks back to the NCAA Tournament.
Mercy is making their 11th straight ECC Championship appearance and look to win their fourth championship in program history. The Mavericks previously won in 2022, 2017 and 2014. Mercy is playing in the First Round for the second straight year. Last year, the Mavericks defeated D'Youville in the First Round by a score of 3-0. Polychroniades and Gallino were named to the ECC Honor Roll on Monday. Freshman Anneliese Becker was named ECC Rookie of the Week on October 21st and senior Isabella Messina and junior Ancksu Dixon were tabbed to the Honor Roll. Senior Skyler Schwenkler was named ECC Defensive Player of the Week on October 14th and Becker and senior Amiah Washington were tabbed to the Honor Roll. Dixon, Becker and freshman Hailey Metzger and Schwenkler were tabbed to the ECC Honor Roll on October 7th. Becker was named ECC Rookie of the Week on September 23rd and Messina, Dixon and Metzger were tabbed to the Honor Roll. Dixon was named ECC Offensive Player of the Week on September 16th and junior Ella Brower, and Metzger and Becker were tabbed to the Honor Roll. Metzger was named ECC Rookie of the Week on September 9th and Dixon, and junior Anna Deutscher were tabbed to the Honor Roll. Mercy has been led by Dixon who has a team-high 26 points on 10 goals and six assists. Dixon is currently tied for the school record with 20 career assists. Metzger has three goals, and an ECC-best seven assists and Brower has four assists. Deutscher has two goals and four assists and senior Elizabeth Bowles has two goals and two assists. Washington has four goals and three assists. Schwenkler has three goals and an assist and Messina has two goals and three assists. Sophomore Ella Gallino and freshman Ana Polychroniades each have two goals and freshman Alyssa Santiago and senior Amber Garcia have an assist. Becker is 9-7-2 in goal with 66 saves, a .767 save percentage and 1.11 goals-against average. Mercy is 7-4-1 all-time against Roberts Wesleyan and is 4-1-1 all-time against the Redhawks at home. Thursday will be the first time Mercy has faced Roberts Wesleyan in the ECC Championship. With a win, the Mavericks would advance to the Semifinals and play at No. 1 seed Molloy on Sunday, November 10th at 12 p.m.
Scouting the Redhawks
Roberts Wesleyan is coming off a 7-1 loss at Franklin Pierce in their regular season finale on October 30th. The Redhawks are making their fourth straight ECC Championship appearance and are looking to win their first-ever ECC Championship. Roberts Wesleyan advanced to the Final in 2015. The Redhawks have been led by Alyssa Hackett who has a team-high 13 points on five goals and three assists. Kara Choate has two goals and three assists and Mackenzie Hagen has two goals and an assist. Mia Tyndell is 3-3-1 in goal with 45 saves, a .750 save percentage and 1.82 goals-against average and Nicolette Knauf is 2-6 in goal with 36 saves, a 2.37 goals-against average and .692 save percentage.
Next Game
The winner of Thursday's game will play in the ECC Championship Semifinal at Molloy on Sunday, November 10th at 12 p.m.
