DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – The Mercy University Men's Soccer Team opens its 2026 season on Thursday, August 27th when they host East Stroudsburg University at 3 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Thursday, August 27th 3 p.m.
Records (2025): Mercy (7-6-5), East Stroudsburg (9-7-2)
Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. East Stroudsburg
Mercy earned a 2-1 win over East Stroudsburg on September 4, 2025.
Scouting the Mavericks
Mercy opens the 2026 season looking to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in eight seasons and qualify for the ECC Championship for the eighth time in nine seasons under Head Coach Pedro Velazquez. The Mavericks went 7-6-5 last season, qualifying for the ECC Championship. Mercy was picked third in the ECC Preseason Poll. Velazquez and the Mavericks look to win their first ECC Championship and qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022. Leading the returners for Velazquez is senior Mario de Roque Zazón who was named Second Team All-ECC last season after playing in 18 games with three goals, five assists, and 11 points. Senior Pau Ramon returns after receiving Third Team All-ECC honors in 2025 after starting all 18 games with three goals, one assist, and seven points. Junior Santiago Dutilh and senior John Hollis return after combining for four goals and four assists a year ago and junior Herman Borke is back after scoring one goal last season. Junior Marcos Landivar had one assist in 10 games last season and junior Juan Gonzalez returns after starting all 18 games last season on defense for the Mavericks. Senior Diego Guzmán and sophomore Erlend Skalstad also return after playing all 18 games last season and graduate students Mathias Joergenrud and Charles Lorenz, juniors Philip Hauge, Nanakofi Boadu, Caleb James, and Estefano Marchiori, and sophomores Henrik Bratli Aanensen, Petter Sommerli Lind, Nicolai Lysoe, and Christopher Nicolas-Martinez also return.
Velazquez also welcomes nine transfers and three freshmen to the team ahead of the 2026 season. Graduate student Sean Green joins Mercy from Lees-McRae College where he went 5-6-4 in goal with 61 saves, a .813 save percentage and 0.92 goals-against average in 2025. Junior Fredrik Balmforth joins the team from D'Youville University where he played in 29 games with two goals in two seasons. Senior Jacob Darwesh Lund-Iversen transfers from Maryville University where he played in 21 games with five goals and two assists in 2025. Junior Nicholas Tellez transfers in from Herkimer Community College and junior Aalon Wilson-Wright comes from Tiffin University where he played in 16 games and scored two goals in 2025. Junior Joel Martinez played at Mount Aloysius College where he recorded 12 goals and 12 assists in 34 games in two seasons. Junior Liam Brandt played two years at Nazareth University and junior Harry Cooke joins Mercy after two seasons at D'Youville. Freshman Dean Yamin started his career at Pace University before coming to Mercy.
The Mavericks also welcome freshmen Marvin Spets, Vicente Klett and Francisco Sanhueza who look to contribute immediately.
Hollis, Guzmán, and Hauge will serve as captains for the Mavericks this season.
The Mavericks are 5-3-1 in season openers under Velazquez.
Scouting the Warriors
East Stroudsburg went 9-7-2 last season. The Warriors were picked fourth in the PSAC East Division Preseason Poll. Leading the returners for East Stroudsburg is Owen Rennie who had a team-high 18 points on seven goals and four assists last season. Jace Seara also returns after posting six goals and 14 points in 2025. Ryan Kiernan is back after posting three goals and two assists. Kevin Kretschman returns in goal after going 5-4-2 with 24 saves, a .667 save percentage and 1.12 goals-against average and Phil Sykes returns after going 4-3 with 23 saves, a .742 save percentage and 1.09 goals-against average.
Next Game
Mercy hosts Monroe on Sunday, August 30th at 3:30 p.m.
