DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 17, 2024) – The Mercy University men's soccer team hosts West Chester University on Wednesday, September 18th at 2:30 p.m.

Who, When and Where

Date/Time: Wednesday, September 18th 2:30 p.m.

Records: Mercy (2-0-1), West Chester (3-0-1)

Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.

Last Meeting vs. West Chester

West Chester earned a 6-3 win over Mercy on August 31, 2008.

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 5-0 win over Staten Island on Friday in their ECC opener. Junior Johannes Hanken Tjostheim scored a game-high four goals and junior Mateo Bacigalupo also scored. Hanken Tjostheim was named ECC Offensive Player of the Week on Monday and graduate student Benjamin Van Buren was tabbed Defensive Player of the Week. Senior Eirik Elvestad was named to the Honor Roll. Elvestad was named the ECC Defensive Player of the Week last week. Hanken Tjostheim has a team-high six goals and 12 points on the year and Bacigalupo has a goal and three points. Sophomore Marcel Duffau, senior Martin Penafiel and junior Mathias Schilbred-Eriksen all have an assist on the year. Elvestad is 2-0-1 in goal with 18 saves, a 0.00 goals-against average and 1.000 save percentage with three shutouts. Mercy was ranked ninth in the first United Soccer Coaches East Region Poll released last Tuesday.

Scouting the Golden Rams

West Chester is coming off a 1-0 win against Southern Connecticut State on Saturday. The Golden Rams were picked second in the PSAC East Division Preseason Poll after going 11-5-5 last season, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. West Chester was receiving votes nationally in the United Soccer Coaches Poll last week. The Golden Rams have been led by Maksym Komperda who has a team-high three goals and six points. Owen Slack has two goals and Tommy Bodenschatz has a goal and two assists. Jason Goldfeder has a team-high three assists and Jaden Howard is 2-0 with five saves and two shutouts. Alexi Amanatidis is 1-0-1 in goal with six saves and a .667 save percentage.

Next Game

Mercy resumes action on Saturday, September 21st when they host D'Youville at 12 p.m.