DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. — Powered by a goal and an assist from freshman Camila Salvador (Santiago, Chile/Santiago College) and senior Ancksu Dixon (Freeport, N.Y./Freeport), the RV Mercy University Women's Soccer Team earned a 3-1 win over No. 14 Wilmington University on Wednesday afternoon at Mercy Field.
The Mavericks (5-0-1) remain unbeaten and defeat the Wildcats (4-1-2) for the first time since 2022. The win is the first for Head Coach Jack Nicholson over a nationally ranked team in his three seasons at the helm.
The match between the Mavericks and the Wildcats commenced with Mercy quickly gaining the upper hand. Sophomore Hailey Metzger (Levittown, N.Y./MacArthur) opened the scoring in the 4th minute, assisted by Salvador, giving the home team an early lead. Salvador then extended the advantage to 2-0 in the 9th minute, with an assist from Dixon. Wilmington responded in the 31st minute when Sierra Bartley scored, assisted by Cayley Winters, narrowing the deficit to 2-1. Despite several attempts from both sides, including multiple saves by Arianna Myers and sophomore Anneliese Becker (Stafford, Va./Mountain View), the first half concluded with Mercy leading 2-1.
Dixon sparked Mercy's second-half momentum with a shot in the 46th minute that struck the crossbar. She later capitalized on a scoring opportunity in the 63rd minute, netting a goal with an assist from junior Sarah Lill Hanks (Skedsmokorset, Norway/High Point University) to extend Mercy's lead to 3-1. Wilmington attempted to respond with several shots, most notably an effort by Evelyn Payne in the 82nd minute that was saved by Becker. Despite Wilmington's offensive pushes, including multiple corner kicks, the Mavericks maintained their two-goal advantage to secure the win.
Salvador scored one goal and assisted another, contributing both offensively and defensively with her game-winning goal. Becker made four saves, facing ten shots and allowing just one goal to secure the win. Metzger scored one goal with her only shot, maintaining a perfect shooting accuracy for the game. Dixon added to the team's success by scoring one goal and assisting another. Dixon ties the school record for goals in a career with 34, previously set by Haley Noble in 2018.
Myers stood out in goal for the Wildcats, registering five saves against 12 shots faced. Winters contributed offensively with an assist and recorded a shot on goal. Bartley found the back of the net, scoring one of Wilmington's goals while also attempting three shots.
Mercy held a 12-10 edge in shots, an 8-5 edge in shots on goal and a 7-3 edge in corner kicks.
In their next game, Mercy heads to Flushing, N.Y., to take on Queens College on September 27. The match is set for a 5 p.m. kickoff.
