DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (July 10, 2024) – For the ninth year, Mercy University Athletics will recap the year by counting down the Top-10 most memorable moments of the 2023-24 season, with all 10 sports represented.
Mercy University Athletics will release a Top-10 moment, as chosen by the athletics staff, with a recap every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the next four weeks, culminating with the top moment from the 2023-24 athletic year being unveiled on Monday, July 22nd.
No. 6 – Women's Soccer Qualifies for ECC Championship for 10th Straight Season and Advances to Semifinals
Coming in at No. 6 in our 2023-24 Top-10 Moments is women's soccer who qualified for the ECC Championship for the 10th straight season and advanced to the Semifinals.
Interim Head Coach Jack Nicholson and the Mavericks were picked first in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 14-3-2 in 2022, winning their third ECC Championship and advancing to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. Mercy topped the poll for the third straight season and senior Kayla Camacho was named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
The Mavericks opened the 2023 season receiving votes nationally in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll and would open their season on September 1st against No. 12 Franklin Pierce. Sophomore Maleah Tarin scored her first collegiate goal and sophomore Kamy Anaya made a game-high six saves as the Mavericks earned a 1-1 draw at defending East Region Champion Franklin Pierce.
Two days later Mercy faced Southern New Hampshire at Franklin Pierce. Despite a goal from sophomore Ancksu Dixon, the Mavericks dropped a 4-1 decision to the Penmen to fall to 0-1-1 on the year. Junior Valeria Rodriguez dished out an assist as Mercy fell to Southern New Hampshire for the first time since 2019. Following the opening weekend of games, Tarin was named ECC Rookie of the Week and Dixon was tabbed to the Honor Roll.
Mercy returned home and held their home opener on September 6th against Dominican. Senior Madison Rosa and freshman Angelina Ortiz scored as the Mavericks earned a 2-0 win over the Chargers. Mercy improved to 1-1-1 on the year and won their second straight home opener. The win was Nicholson's first collegiate win. Following the win, Anaya was named to the ECC Honor Roll.
At the start of the new week, Mercy was ranked fourth in the United Soccer Coaches East Region Poll. The Mavericks resumed action on September 12th when they played at Adelphi. Anaya made a game-high three saves as Mercy dropped a narrow 1-0 decision to the Panthers to fall to 1-2-1 on the year.
Nicholson and the Mavericks opened ECC play on September 16th at D'Youville. Junior Amiah Washington scored a goal as Mercy earned a 1-1 draw at the Saints. Mercy sat at 1-2-2 entering their game against Queens on September 23rd. Tarin scored the game-winning goal in the 22nd minute, off an assist from senior Marlene Avalos, as the Mavericks earned a 1-0 win over the Knights. Mercy earned their eighth straight win over Queens and the win was Nicholson's first ECC win as head coach.
The Mavericks made it two wins in a row when they returned home and earned a 2-1 win over Staten Island on September 27th. Tarin and Rosa both scored and senior Jennifer Silva and graduate student Tyra Anderson added assists as Mercy moved to 3-2-2 overall and 2-0-1 in ECC play.
Following the win over Staten Island, Nicholson had the interim tag removed and was named Head Women's Soccer Coach and Assistant Athletic Director for Student Services. Mercy ended the month of September with a 1-0 loss at Roberts Wesleyan on September 30th. The Mavericks dropped their first ECC regular season game since October 16, 2021 and fell to the Redhawks for the first time since 2018. Tarin was named ECC Rookie of the Week again on October 2nd.
Mercy was back in action on October 7th and earned a 1-1 draw at St. Thomas Aquinas. Tarin scored her fourth goal of the season and Camacho dished out her second assist of the season. Anaya made a game-high eight saves to earn the draw. After the draw, Anaya and Tarin were named to the ECC Honor Roll.
Nicholson and the Mavericks sat at 3-3-3 overall and 2-1-2 in ECC play entering their contest against Southern Connecticut State on October 10th. Washington and Dixon scored and senior Skyler Schwenkler dished out two assists as Mercy earned a 2-1 win over the Owls. Anaya also made a penalty kick save in the 89th minute to preserve the win for the Mavericks.
The Mavericks capped off the week with a 1-0 win over Molloy on October 14th. Avalos netted the game-winning goal in the 40th minute, off an assist from Dixon, as Mercy improved to 5-3-3 overall and 3-1-2 in ECC play. Following the win over Molloy, Anaya was named ECC Defensive Player of the Week and Dixon was tabbed to the Honor Roll.
Mercy stepped out of ECC play again when they hosted regionally-ranked Wilmington on October 19th. Despite a goal from Dixon, the Mavericks dropped a 3-1 decision to the Wildcats. The Mavericks ended the week with a 6-0 win over Lincoln on October 22nd. Dixon had a game-high five points on two goals and an assist, Washington netted two goals, Ortiz added a goal and junior Elizabeth Bowles also scored. With the win, the Mavericks secured their 10th straight ECC Championship berth. After the win over Lincoln, Dixon was named to the ECC Honor Roll.
Nicholson and the Mavericks continued their winning ways when they earned a 1-0 win over Holy Family on October 25th. Ortiz recorded the game-winning goal in the 40th minute, off an assist from Dixon, as the Mavericks improved to 7-4-3 on the year.
The Mavericks ended the regular season, hosting Daemen for Senior Day on October 28th. In a ceremony prior to the game, Mercy honored Rosa, Silva, Camacho, Avalos, Schwenkler and Toni Valadez. Rosa netted both goals as the Mavericks earned a 2-0 win over the Wildcats to end the regular season at 8-4-3 overall and 5-1-2 in ECC play. Mercy improved to 11-1 all-time against Daemen and the Mavericks secured the No. 3 seed in the following week's ECC Championship. Mercy would host No. 6 seed D'Youville in a First Round matchup on Tuesday, November 2nd at 1 p.m. Following the win over Daemen, Rosa was named to the ECC Honor Roll.
Prior to the start of the ECC Championship, Mercy was ranked 10th in the United Soccer Coaches East Region Poll. In the First Round of the ECC Championship, Silva had a goal and an assist, Washington and Rosa scored and Schwenkler added an assist as the Mavericks earned a 3-0 win over D'Youville to advance to Sunday's Semifinals. Silva got the scoring started with a penalty kick goal in the 19th minute to make it 1-0. Mercy made it 2-0 in the 30th minute when Silva fired a free kick into the box that found Schwenkler, who touched the ball over to Washington, who headed the ball into the back of the net. Rosa gave the Mavericks a 3-0 lead in the 33rd minute when she fired a shot from well outside the box that found the upper corner of the net. Mercy headed into halftime with a 3-0 lead and the Mavericks backline limited D'Youville to just one shot on goal in the second half, giving Mercy the 3-0 win.
Prior to the Semifinals, Anaya was named ECC Goalkeeper of the Year and Dixon, Rosa, Schwenkler and Anaya were named First Team All-ECC. Anderson, Silva and Tarin were tabbed Second Team All-ECC. Anaya was named Goalkeeper of the Year for the second straight year and Dixon was tabbed First Team All-ECC for the second straight year. Rosa took home First Team honors for the first time and Schwenkler was named First Team All-ECC for the second time. Anderson and Silva received All-Conference recognition for the second straight year and Tarin was named All-Conference in her first year playing.
The ECC Semifinals took place on November 5th with the Mavericks playing at No. 2 seed Daemen. Anaya made three saves, but it was not enough, as the Wildcats earned a 2-0 win over Mercy. The Mavericks ended their season 9-5-3, reaching the ECC Championship for the 10th straight season.
Schwenkler was named D2CCA Second Team All-Region and Rosa and Dixon were tabbed United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-Region. Dixon led the Mavericks with 13 points on a team-high five goals and three assists and Rosa had 10 points on five goals. Schwenkler tied for the team lead with three assists.
Mercy also excelled in the classroom with Schwenkler, junior Isabella Messina, Anaya and Dixon being named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team.
The Mavericks had a successful 2023 season and will look to build upon that success in Head Coach Jack Nicholson's first full season as head coach.
Schedule for the Top-10 Moments of the 2023-24 Season
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the next four weeks, the Mercy University Athletic Department will release the Top-10 moments one at a time beginning with the No. 10 moment on Monday, July 1st. The No. 1 moment will be unveiled on Monday, July 22nd.
No. 1 – July 22nd
No. 2 – July 19th
No. 3 – July 17th
No. 4 – July 15th
No. 5 – July 12th
No. 6 – July 10th
No. 7 - Field Hockey Qualifies for NE10 Championship for First Time
No. 8 – Softball Qualifies for ECC Championship for Fourth Straight Year
No. 9 – Baseball Wins 20 Games for Fourth Time Since 2018
No. 10 – Garrett Kirkland Sets School Record for Career Three-Pointers and Games Played
