SPARKILL, N.Y. – Despite a goal from freshman Marvin Spets (Oslo, Norway/Blindern Videregaaende Skole) and assists from senior John Hollis (Bradford, England/West Virginia Wesleyan College) and sophomore Erlend Skalstad (Drammen, Norway/Drammen Videregaaende Skole), the No. 4 seeded Mercy University Men's Soccer Team dropped a 2-1 decision at No. 1 seeded St. Thomas Aquinas College in an ECC Men's Soccer Championship Semifinal on Sunday afternoon at Spartan Field.
The Mavericks (12-5-3) fall to the Spartans (10-4-4) for the second time this season. STAC advances to next week's ECC Championship Final where they will face the winner of D'Youville/Molloy on Sunday, November 8th at the highest remaining seed. Mercy will now await a possible NCAA Tournament at-large berth.
STAC took a 1-0 lead in the 4th minute of play when Jalen Moni scored, off a Zanier Briscoe assist, giving the Spartans an early lead.
Graduate student Sean Green (Asheville, N.C./Lees-McRae College) made two saves to keep the score 1-0. The Mavericks tied the score at 1-1 in the 39th minute when Spets scored off assists from Hollis and Skalstad. The score remained tied at 1-1 at halftime.
Green made a save early in the second half to keep the game tied. Moni scored in the 62nd minute, giving the Spartans a 2-1 lead.
The Mavericks were unable to find the equalizer and STAC earned the 2-1 win.
Mercy was led by Spets who scored his third goal of the season. Hollis dished out his Division-II leading 15th assist of the year and Skalstad recorded his first assist of the season. Green made a game-high seven saves to take the loss.
STAC was led by Moni who scored two goals and by Dante Muntane who made five saves to earn the win.
STAC held an 18-15 edge in shots, a 10-6 edge in shots on goal and Mercy held a 5-1 edge in corner kicks.
