DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (July 25, 2025) – For the 10th year, Mercy University Athletics will recap the year by counting down the Top-10 most memorable moments of the 2024-25 season, with all 10 sports represented.
Mercy University Athletics will release a Top-10 moment, as chosen by the athletics staff, with a recap every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the next three weeks culminating with the top moment from the 2024-25 athletic year being unveiled on Friday, August 1st.
No. 4 – Baseball Sets School Record for Wins and Qualifies for ECC Championship
Coming in at No. 4 in our 2024-25 Top-10 Moments is baseball who set a school record for wins and qualified for the ECC Championship.
Mercy was picked fourth in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 20-29 in 2024.
The Mavericks opened their 2025 season on February 13th when they faced regionally ranked Goldey-Beacom in Cary, North Carolina. Senior Gabe Sanders had an RBI and sophomore Peyton Jemison had a game-high-tying two hits as Mercy dropped a 6-1 decision. On February 14th, Mercy earned their first win of the season when they earned a 5-3 win over Goldey-Beacom. Senior Connor Ruland had a game-high two RBI; freshman Ryan DiNapoli earned his first collegiate win and junior Samuel Gil earned the save in his Mercy debut.
Head Coach Chris Schoen and the Mavericks concluded their Cary stay with a doubleheader split against regionally-ranked Franklin Pierce on February 16th. Jemison and junior Zach Ashline both homered as Mercy earned an 11-10 win in game one before falling 8-4 in the nightcap. The Mavericks defeated the Ravens for the first time since 2012.
Mercy faced No. 25/28 UNC Pembroke on February 18th and despite an RBI from junior John Nisco the Mavericks fell, 19-1. The Mavericks headed to Myrtle Beach where they played regionally ranked Post on February 21st. Ashline and junior Kolongi Goins both had a game-high three RBI as Mercy earned an 11-6 win. The Mavericks were off to their best start at 3-3 since 2021. Mercy continued their winning ways with 15-1 and 4-2 wins over Adelphi on February 22nd. Eight different Mavericks recorded an RBI and junior Diego Wirz, and senior Matthew Manzoeillo earned wins. Mercy swept a doubleheader against Adelphi for the first time since 2003. The Mavericks concluded their southern trip with a 9-1 loss to Bentley on February 23rd. Sophomore Kyle Engmann had an RBI as Mercy fell to 5-4 on the year. After the week was over, Goins was named ECC Player of the Week and Jemison, Wirz and freshman Gordon Votruba were tabbed to the Honor Roll.
The Mavericks were ranked No. 8 in the NCBWA East Region Poll, heading into their home opener on March 2nd. Engmann had a team-high three home runs and seven RBI on the day as Mercy earned 18-2 and 20-0 wins over Bloomfield. The Mavericks improved to 7-4 on the year.
Mercy inched up to a program-best No. 6 in the NCBWA East Region Poll on March 3rd and Engmann, Ashline and Manzoeillo were tabbed to the Honor Roll.
Schoen and the Mavericks resumed action on March 4th when they dropped a 3-1 decision to Southern Connecticut State. Ashline and senior Alfred Hoti both had a game-high-tying two hits. On March 8th, Mercy hosted No. 7 West Chester and dropped the first game 6-5 before earning a 10-6 win in game two. Ashline had a game-high three RBI in game two as Mercy moved to 8-6 on the year. West Chester was the highest ranked team Mercy has beaten in nine seasons under Schoen. The Mavericks ended the week with 8-0 and 6-2 losses at Pace on March 9th. Jemison and senior Joseph Gonzalez both had an RBI in game two.
Ashline and Jemison were named to the ECC Honor Roll on March 10th, and the Mavericks were ranked No. 8 in the NCBWA East Region Poll. The Mavericks got back in the win column when they earned a 5-4 win over Holy Family on March 11th. Junior Ryan Ehret earned the win, senior Will Sullo earned the save and Ashline, Goins, and junior Sean McAdams all had two hits.
The Mavericks made it two wins in a row when they earned a 9-4 win at regionally ranked Southern Connecticut State on March 12th. Sanders had a home run and a game-high five RBI as Mercy moved to 10-8. Freshman Ethan McGarry pitched 2.2 shutout innings to earn his first collegiate win. Mercy earned a split at Kutztown on March 14th, earning a 6-3 win in game one before falling 10-4 in game two. Sanders, Goins, Nisco and Jemison had RBI in the game one win. Ashline recorded his 100th career hit in game two. The Mavericks finished off the week with 9-1 and 10-4 wins over Kutztown on March 15th. Gonzalez had a team-high six hits and four RBI on the day as Mercy moved to 13-9.
Mercy sat at No. 8 in the NCBWA East Region Poll. McAdams was named ECC Player of the Week, freshman Andre Jenkins was tabbed Rookie of the Week and Gonzalez and Wirz were named to the Honor Roll on March 17th.
Ruland had a game-high-tying two hits on March 18th at Pace, but the Mavericks dropped a 2-1 decision to the Setters. Mercy opened ECC play on March 21st with a 22-18 loss to St. Thomas Aquinas. Jemison had a game-high five RBI and junior David Bernard Jr. had three RBI. On March 22nd, the Mavericks earned a split against the Spartans, dropping a 15-5 decision in game one before earning a 5-4 win in game two. Bernard Jr. hit a home run and had a game-high two RBI in game two. Mercy ended the series with an 8-7 win over the Spartans on March 23rd. Goins and Gonzalez had a game-high two RBI and Jenkins earned the win as the Mavericks moved to 15-12 overall and 2-2 in ECC play.
The Mavericks remained at No. 8 in the NCBWA East Region Poll. Goins was named ECC Co-Player of the Week on March 24th and Jemison and Jenkins were tabbed to the Honor Roll. Goins was also named NCBWA East Region Hitter of the Week.
Mercy began their series with eventual ECC Champion Molloy on March 28th. Jemison had a game-high-tying two RBI as the Mavericks dropped an 8-6 decision to the Lions. On March 29th, Mercy dropped a 10-9 decision to the Lions in game one before earning an 8-6 win in game two. Nisco and Bernard Jr. homered in game two to lead the Mavericks to their first win over Molloy since 2022. Sanders recorded his 100th career hit in game two. Mercy ended the week with a 5-4 walk-off win in the 12th inning over the Lions. Goins recorded a walk-off RBI single in the 12th inning and McGarry tossed 5.1 shutout innings to earn the win. In a ceremony prior to the game, the Mavericks retired former head coach Rick Wolff's #24 jersey. Goins went 5-for-5 with two RBI in the win and Mercy moved to 17-14 overall and 4-4 in ECC play.
Schoen and the Mavericks dropped to No. 9 in the NCBWA East Region Poll and Goins, Nisco, and McGarry were named to the ECC Honor Roll on March 31st.
The Mavericks were back in action on April 3rd when they dropped an 11-9 decision to Staten Island before earning an 18-16 win in game two. Nisco had a team-high eight RBI and two home runs on the day as Mercy moved to 18-15 overall and 5-5 in ECC play. Nisco recorded his 100th career hit in game two. The next day, the Mavericks earned a 3-2 win in game one over the Dolphins and dropped a 9-4 decision in game two. Jemison recorded a walk-off RBI single in the 11th inning in game one and senior Gaetano Pennisi pitched 2.1 shutout innings to earn his first collegiate win.
On April 7th, Mercy was receiving votes in the NCBWA East Region Poll and Manzoeillo, Nisco, and Jemison were named to the ECC Honor Roll.
Seven different Mavericks recorded an RBI as Mercy earned a 14-9 win at Georgian Court on April 8th. Ashline had a game-high four RBI and Goins had three RBI. The Mavericks improved to 20-16 and recorded 20 wins in a season for the fifth time under Schoen. Mercy opened their four-game series with D'Youville on April 11th with a 3-2 win. Goins drove in the go-ahead run with a double in the 11th inning. Mercy now had their most wins in a season since 2022. Gonzalez and Sanders recorded an RBI on April 12th as the Mavericks dropped 5-2 and 5-0 decisions to the Saints. The Mavericks concluded the series with a 9-6 come-from-behind victory over the Saints after trailing 6-0. Jemison went 3-for-6 with an RBI and Nisco had two RBI. DiNapoli pitched 2.2 scoreless innings to earn the win. Mercy moved to 22-18 overall and 8-8 in ECC play. The Mavericks now had their most wins since 1990.
The Mavericks once again were receiving votes in the NCBWA East Region Poll on April 14th. Sanders was named ECC Player of the Week and Goins, DiNapoli and Votruba were tabbed to the Honor Roll.
Mercy returned to play on April 18th with a convincing 17-1 win at Lincoln. Gonzalez, Nisco and Bernard Jr. had a game-high three RBI and Jenkins, and graduate student John Gillespie combined for the win and save. The next day, Mercy earned a 13-6 win over the Lions before falling 8-7 in game two. Nine different Mavericks recorded an RBI on the day as Mercy moved to 24-19 on the year. Gonzalez recorded his 100th career run scored in game one.
On April 21st, Gonzalez, Nisco, and Jenkins were named to the ECC Honor Roll. The Mavericks resumed action on April 22nd with a 10-5 win over regionally-ranked New Haven. Ashline homered twice in the win and Nisco had a home run and three RBI. Mercy opened their four-game series with Queens on April 25th. Jenkins earned the win, and Jemison, Sanders and Goins had an RBI as the Mavericks earned a 3-1 win over the Knights. Mercy moved to 26-19 overall and 9-8 in ECC play, tying the single-season school record for wins previously set in 1990. The next day, Mercy hosted Queens for Senior Day and in a ceremony prior to the game the Mavericks honored Gonzalez, Sanders, Sullo, Manzoeillo, Frankie Asaro, Ruland, Jaison Mock and Hoti. Hoti, Nisco and Ashline homered, but the Knights earned a 10-8 win in 12 innings. Mercy ended the series with a split at Queens on April 27th. Mercy earned a 7-6 win in game one before falling 13-11 in game two. Ruland, McAdams and Jemison all had home runs. Nisco set a new single season school record for RBI, surpassing the previous mark of 50 set by John Mooradian in 2019. Mercy moved to 27-21 overall and 10-10 in ECC play, setting a new school record for wins in a season. The Mavericks secured their fourth ECC Championship berth in five seasons and finished ECC play .500 or better for the first time since 2022.
Jenkins was named ECC Rookie of the Week on April 28th and Jemison, Ashline and Wirz were tabbed to the Honor Roll.
Mercy hosted Adelphi in their final home game of the year on April 29th. Gonzalez had an RBI, but the Mavericks dropped a 10-1 decision to the Panthers. The Mavericks ended the regular season with a 14-13 win at New Haven on April 30th. Jemison went 5-for-5 with four runs and two RBI. Jemison set a new single-season school record for doubles with 19, surpassing the previous record of 16 set by Greg Bolger in 1984. He also set a new single-season school record for hits with 76, surpassing the previous record of 75 set by John Mooradian in 2019. Mercy ended the regular season 28-22.
Freshman Matthew Hesselbirg was named ECC Rookie of the Week on May 5th and Jemison was tabbed to the Honor Roll. Before the start of the ECC Championship, the Mavericks had a school-record 10 ECC All-Conference selections. Jemison, Nisco, Goins, Jenkins and Votruba were named First Team All-ECC and Hoti, Gonzalez, Sanders, Manzoeillo, and Ashline were named Second Team All-ECC. The 10 All-Conference selections were the most in the ECC.
Mercy opened ECC Championship play on May 8th against No. 2 seed Staten Island in Niagara Falls. Mercy took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Jemison led off the game with a single and Nisco reached on a fielder's choice to put runners on first and third. After a strikeout and foul out made two outs in the inning, Bernard Jr. singled home Jemison to give Mercy a 1-0 lead.
The score remained 1-0 until the fourth inning when CSI scored two runs to take a 2-1 lead.
The Mavericks responded with two runs in the fifth inning to retake the lead at 3-2. Goins, Jemison and Nisco singled to load the bases before Gonzalez singled, scoring Goins to make it 2-2. Bernard Jr. later drew a bases-loaded walk to give Mercy a 3-2 lead. The Dolphins recorded a run in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 3-3.
Mercy retook the lead in the sixth inning. Hoti doubled to lead off the inning and later scored on a Nisco triple to left field, giving the Mavericks a 4-3 lead. CSI tied the game again in the bottom of the sixth on a Polemeni RBI single, making it 4-4.
The Mavericks took the lead for good in the seventh with a run on no hits and one CSI error to take a 5-4 lead. Bernard Jr. and McAdams walked to lead off the inning and Sanders reached on an error by the shortstop to load the bases. Hoti then hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Bernard Jr. to give Mercy a 5-4 lead.
The combination of Jenkins and DiNapoli tossed a scoreless seventh, eighth and ninth innings to give Mercy the 5-4 win.
Mercy moved to 29-22 on the year and won their opening game in the ECC Championship for the first time. The next day, the Mavericks dropped a 5-4 decision to No. 1 seed Molloy and a 17-2 decision to No. 4 seed Queens to see their season come to an end. Goins had a team-high three RBI on the day and Jemison recorded his 100th career hit in game one in just his 60th career game. Mercy ended their season 29-24 with a new school record in wins.
After the historic season, the awards began to trickle in for the Mavericks. A school-record four Mavericks were named to the NCBWA All-Region Teams. Jemison was named First Team All-Region and Nisco, Goins and Votruba were named Second Team All-Region. Jemison was also named D2CCA First Team All-Region and Nisco was tabbed to the Second Team. Jemison also earned First Team All-Region honors from the ABCA. Jemison ended his 2025 season, hitting an ECC-best .402 with 80 hits, 51 runs, 36 RBI, 19 doubles, four triples, two home runs and 14 stolen bases. The third baseman set single-season school records for hits and doubles and led the ECC in doubles, was second in hits and third in triples. Nisco hit .337 with 66 hits, 50 runs, 56 RBI, nine home runs, five triples, and 13 stolen bases. The outfielder ranked fourth in the ECC in runs, third in home runs and was second in RBI. The junior set a new single-season school record for RBI.
The team also excelled in the classroom with Sanders, Manzoeillo, Nisco, Ashline, and Bernard Jr. being named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team. Ruland also earned the 2025 Bob McCloskey Insurance ECC Postgraduate Scholar-Athlete Scholarship. The team also earned the ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award for having a 3.38 GPA during the 2024-25 academic year.
Schedule for the Top-10 Moments of the 2024-25 Season
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the next four weeks, the Mercy University Athletic Department will release the Top-10 moments one at a time beginning with the No. 10 moment on Friday, July 11th. The No. 1 moment will be unveiled on Friday, August 1st.
No. 1 – August 1st
No. 2 – July 30th
No. 3 – July 28th
No. 4 – July 25th
No. 5 – Women's Lacrosse Advances to ECC Championship Final
No. 6 – Men's Soccer Advances to ECC Championship Semifinal and is Nationally-Ranked Throughout Season
No. 7 – Softball Records Most Wins Since 2019 and Wins First ECC Championship Game Since 2021
No. 8 - Women's Soccer Qualifies for ECC Championship for 11th Straight Season and Advances to Semifinals
No. 9 – Men's Basketball Records Most Wins Since 2019 and Nearly Qualifies for ECC Championship
No. 10 – Field Hockey Gets Off to Best Start in Program History and Nearly Qualifies for NE10 Championship
