DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 12, 2024) – The Mercy University men's soccer team plays at The College of Staten Island in their ECC opener on Friday, September 13th at 1 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Friday, September 13th 1 p.m.
Records: Mercy (1-0-1, 0-0 ECC), Staten Island (0-2, 0-0 ECC)
Location: Staten Island, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. Staten Island
Mercy earned a 0-0 draw against the Dolphins on September 27, 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 2-0 win over RV Adelphi on Tuesday. The Panthers were ranked fourth in the East Region according to the United Soccer Coaches Poll. The Mavericks were led by junior Johannes Hanken Tjostheim who scored both goals and by senior Eirik Elvestad who made five saves to earn the shutout win. Senior Martin Penafiel also has an assist on the season and Elvestad is 1-0-1 in goal with two shutouts and 17 saves. Elvestad was named the ECC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. Mercy was ranked ninth in the first United Soccer Coaches East Region Poll released on Tuesday. The Mavericks look to defeat Staten Island for the first time since 2021 and look to win their ECC opener for the sixth straight season.
Scouting the Dolphins
Staten Island opened their 2024 season with a 3-2 loss to Assumption on Saturday and a 1-0 loss to Bloomfield on Wednesday. The Dolphins were picked sixth in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 5-8-4 last season. Staten Island has been led by Miguel Espinosa who has a team-high two goals and four points. AJ Montana is 0-2 in goal with 10 saves, a .714 save percentage and 2.00 goals-against average.
Next Game
Mercy resumes action on Wednesday, September 18th when they host West Chester at 2:30 p.m.
