DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 18, 2024) – Powered by a game-high two goals from junior Johannes Hanken Tjostheim (Aalesund, Norway/Spring Hill College) and a game-high three assists from senior Julian Holland (Tokyo, Japan/Iowa Western CC), the No. 24 Mercy University men's soccer team earned a 4-0 win over RV West Chester University on Wednesday afternoon at Mercy Field.
The Mavericks (3-0-1) remain unbeaten and post their fourth straight shutout to open the season. The Golden Rams (3-1-1) suffer their first loss of the season. Mercy opens their season with four straight shutouts for the first time since 2013.
Mercy was led by Hanken Tjostheim who had a game-high two goals and now has a team-high eight goals and 16 points. Juniors Hugo Martin (Malaga, Spain/Rogers State University) and Santiago Serrano (Bogota, Colombia/Rogers State University) both recorded their first goals as Mavericks. Holland dished out a game-high three assists and seniors Martin Penafiel (Santiago, Chile/Colegio del Verbo Divino) and Juan Jose Alvarez Acosta (Medellin, Colombia/St. Andrews University) also had an assist. Senior Eirik Elvestad (Oslo, Norway/Blindern VGS) made three saves to earn his fourth shutout of the season.
West Chester was led by Devven Frey who had a team-high three shots and by Jaden Howard who had a game-high six saves to take the loss.
The game remained scoreless until the 12th minute when Holland fed a through ball to Martin and Martin beat a West Chester defender after the goalkeeper misplayed the ball outside the box, giving Mercy an early 1-0 lead.
Mercy made it 2-0 in the 30th minute when Hanken Tjostheim netted his first goal of the game after a cross from Penafiel and Holland from the right side.
The Mavericks closed the half with a goal in the 42nd minute to take a 3-0 lead. Serrano finished off an Acosta corner kick to give Mercy a 3-0 lead at halftime.
Hanken Tjostheim put the finishing touches on the win with his second goal of the game in the 54th minute, off an assist from Holland, to make it 4-0. The Mavericks backline did not surrender a shot on goal for the remainder of the game, giving Mercy the 4-0 shutout win.
Mercy held a 13-11 edge in shots and a 10-3 edge in shots on goal. West Chester held an 8-4 edge in corner kicks.
Head Coach Pedro Velazquez and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, September 21st when they host D'Youville at 12 p.m.
