DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – Powered by goals from junior Hailey Metzger (Levittown, N.Y./MacArthur), sophomore Gracie DiPalo (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport South Manor) and freshmen Roslyn Almodovar (Belleville, N.J./Belleville) and Elizabeth Crawford (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion), the No. 25 Mercy University Women's Soccer Team earned a 4-2 win over Goldey-Beacom College in their home opener on Sunday afternoon at Mercy Field.
The Mavericks (2-0) start 2-0 for the second straight year and win their fifth straight home opener. Mercy defeats the Lightning (0-2) for the fourth straight time.
Junior Blake Goldstein (Oceanside, N.Y./Long Island University) recorded the first shot on goal of the game in the 5th minute of action before Metzger scored off a cross from freshman Connor Leahy (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point) to put Mercy up, 1-0, in the 8th minute.
DiPalo later gave the Mavericks a 2-0 lead in the 26th minute following an Almodovar assist. Goldey-Beacom scored goals in the 28th and 32nd minutes to tie the game at 2-2. The teams headed into halftime tied at 2-2.
Mercy came out firing in the second half, forcing Lightning goalie Maria Empadinhas to make three early saves in the frame. The Mavericks took a 3-2 lead in the 67th minute when Crawford scored off a sophomore Casey Szczotka (Mattituck, N.Y./Mattituck) shot that hit the left post.
Almodovar later gave Mercy an insurance goal in the 89th minute, following an assist from Metzger, giving the Mavericks a 4-2 lead. Junior Anneliese Becker (Stafford, Va./Mountain View) made a late save to preserve the win as Mercy earned the 4-2 win in their home opener.
Mercy was led by Metzger who had a goal and an assist and by Almodovar who recorded her first collegiate goal and assist. Crawford added her first collegiate goal and the game-winning goal and DiPalo contributed her first goal of the season. Leahy dished out her second assist of the year, and Szczotka added her first assist of the season. Junior Heiddis Sigurdardottir (Garðabær, Iceland/University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) played the first half in goal and Becker made one save in the second half to earn the win.
Goldey-Beacom was led by Lexy Yeager and Jessica Jensen who both scored. Empadinhas made a game-high 10 saves to take the loss.
Mercy held a 26-3 edge in shots, a 14-3 edge in shots on goal and an 11-1 edge in corner kicks.
Head Coach Jack Nicholson and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, September 2nd when they play at Chestnut Hill at 7 p.m.
