DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 21, 2024) – Powered by a goal and an assist from senior Isabella Messina (Huntington Beach, Calif./Saddleback College) and junior Ancksu Dixon (Freeport, N.Y./Freeport), the Mercy University women's soccer team earned a 2-0 win over D'Youville University in their ECC opener on Saturday afternoon at Mercy Field.

The Mavericks (3-2-1, 1-0 ECC) are 3-0-1 in their last four games and win their ECC opener for the first time since 2022. Mercy improves to 4-0-1 all-time against the Saints (0-5-1, 0-1 ECC).

Mercy was led by Messina who recorded her first goal of the season and her second assist of the year. Dixon netted her team-leading sixth goal and fourth assist of the season. Senior Skyler Schwenkler (San Diego, Calif./Grossmont) added her first assist of the season. Freshman Anneliese Becker (Stafford, Va./Mountain View) made three saves to earn the shutout win.

D'Youville was led by Laoise O'Haodha who had a team-high three shots. Katie Liljenquist made a game-high four saves to take the loss.

Becker made one save in the first half and Liljenquist stopped three shots to keep the game scoreless heading into halftime.

The game remained scoreless until the 65th minute when Messina found Dixon and the junior fired the ball into the right side of the net to give Mercy a 1-0 lead.

Messina made it 2-0 in the 71st minute when Schwenkler sent a ball in from midfield, finding Dixon who later sent the ball in front to Messina, who put the ball into the goal to give Mercy an insurance goal.

Becker made a final save in the 84th minute to keep D'Youville from scoring and the Mavericks earned the 2-0 win.

Mercy held a 19-8 edge in shots and a 6-3 edge in shots on goal. Mercy held a 7-1 edge in corner kicks.

Head Coach Jack Nicholson and the Mavericks resume action on Tuesday, September 24th when they play at Wilmington at 4 p.m.