DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Nov. 2, 2025) – The No. 4 seeded Mercy University Men's Soccer Team hosts No. 5 seeded University of the District of Columbia in an ECC Men's Soccer Championship First Round matchup on Wednesday, November 5th at 1 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Wednesday, November 5th 1 p.m.
Records: #4 Mercy (7-5-5, 3-1-4 ECC), #5 District of Columbia (8-3-4, 3-2-3 ECC)
Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Championship Central
Tickets
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
All Games
$10 – General Admission for adults
$5 – Students w/ID, Senior Citizens and Children 5 and Up
Children under 5 are free of charge
*Tickets must be purchased at the link above. Cash will not be accepted so walkup tickets at the venue still must be purchased through the ECC website.
Last Meeting vs. District of Columbia
Mercy earned a 0-0 draw against UDC on September 20, 2025.
Scouting the Mavericks
The Mavericks are coming off a 2-1 win over D'Youville on Saturday. Mercy was led by senior Matteo Azambuja who scored both goals. Mercy entered the 2025 season looking to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in seven seasons and qualify for the ECC Championship for the seventh time in nine seasons under Head Coach Pedro Velazquez. The Mavericks went 9-3-5 last season, advancing to the Semifinals of the ECC Championship. Mercy reached as high as No. 10 nationally in 2024. Mercy was picked second in the ECC Preseason Poll. Leading the returners for Velazquez is senior Santiago Serrano who was named First Team All-ECC last season. Serrano had three goals and five assists last season. Senior Mateo Bacigalupo also returns after posting five goals and two assists in 2024. Senior Hugo Martin is back after netting three goals and two assists and sophomore Herman Borke also returns after posting two goals and two assists. Seniors Nicolás Cerda, Matteo Azambuja, Mohamed Souhail, Daniel Alvarez and Charles Lorenz, juniors Mathias Joergenrud and Diego Guzmán and sophomore Santiago Dutilh also return. Velazquez also adds transfers Mateo Sanchez, Philip Hauge, Pau Ramon, Juan Gonzalez, Mario de Roque Zazón, Nanakofi Boadu, Caleb James, Marcos Landivar, John Hollis, Peder Brest Knutsen and Justin Ruiz and freshmen Petter Sommerli Lind, Bautista Alvarez, Henrik Bratli Aanensen, Nicolai Lysoe, Erlend Skalstad and Christopher Nicolas-Martinez.
Mercy is making their fourth straight ECC Championship appearance and seventh appearance in nine seasons under Head Coach Pedro Velazquez. The Mavericks look to win their fourth ECC Championship, having previously won in 2004, 2019 and 2022. Mercy is playing in the First Round for the first time. The Mavericks look to advance to the semifinals for the third straight year. Mercy fell to District of Columbia, 2-1, in the semifinals last season at Mercy Field. The Mavericks enter the postseason 5-0-2 in their last seven games. Juniors John Hollis and Mateo Sanchez were named to the ECC Honor Roll last week. Senior Santiago Serrano was named to the ECC Honor Roll on October 20th. Sophomore Juan Gonzalez was named to the ECC Honor Roll on September 22nd. Mercy has been led by junior Mario de Roque Zazón who has 11 points on three goals and a team-high five assists. Senior Hugo Martin has 10 points on four goals and two assists and senior Matteo Azambuja has three goals and four assists. Serrano has seven points on three goals and one assist and junior Pau Ramon has three goals and an assist. Gonzalez has a goal and senior Mateo Bacigalupo has a team-high 12 points on four assists and four goals. Sophomore Santiago Dutilh has two goals and two assists and Hollis has two goals and two assists. Sophomore Marcos Landivar has an assist and senior Nicolas Cerda has a goal and one assist. Borke has one goal on the year and junior Mateo Sanchez is 6-5-5 in goal with 70 saves, a .745 save percentage and 1.58 goals-against average with one assist. Sanchez recorded his 100th career save against Southern Connecticut State on October 4th. Mercy is 9-6-4 against the Firebirds and are 4-4-4 all-time at home against UDC. The Mavericks are ranked No. 10 in the latest United Soccer Coaches East Region Poll. With a win, the Mavericks would advance to the Semifinals and play at No. 1 seed Queens on Saturday, November 8th at 7 p.m.
Scouting the Firebirds
UDC is coming off a 1-1 draw against Molloy on Saturday. The Firebirds were picked third in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 8-8-4 last season, winning the ECC Championship and qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. UDC is looking to win back-to-back ECC Championships after winning their first championship last season. The Firebirds are led by Ignacio Lopez who has a team-high 12 points on five goals and two assists. Zachary Parker has eight points on two goals and a team-high-tying four assists and Yamah Nawabi has a team-high-tying four assists with six points. Joao De Aquino has three goals and an assist and Alexander Moody-Stuart has three goals. Sergio Becerra is 8-3-4 in goal with 65 saves, a .783 save percentage and 1.23 goals-against average.
Next Game
The winner of Wednesday's game will play in the ECC Championship Semifinal at Queens on Saturday, November 8th at 7 p.m.
