DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – The Mercy University Women's Soccer Team is ranked No. 25 nationally in the United Soccer Coaches Division II Women's Soccer Preseason Top 25 Poll.
Mercy is the lone school from the ECC ranked in the Top 25. The Mavericks are ranked in the Top 25 of the preseason poll for the first time since 2018. The Mavericks are ranked No. 25 after ending the 2025 season receiving votes nationally. Head Coach Jack Nicholson and Mercy went 14-4-3 last season, winning their first ECC Regular Season Championship since 2022 and advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022. The Mavericks ended the season with their most wins since 2022.
The Mavericks return four All-Region selections and six All-Conference honorees from last year's team. Leading the returners is senior captain Sarah Lill Hanks who was named United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-Region, D2CCA First Team All-Region, ECC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-ECC. The defender started all 21 games and had three assists in 1,892 minutes in 2025. Junior Hailey Metzger also returns after earning United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-Region, D2CCA Second Team All-Region and Second Team All-ECC a year ago. The forward played in all 21 games last season, finishing with nine goals, 12 assists, and 30 points. Sophomore Casey Szczotka is back after being named United Soccer Coaches and D2CCA Second Team All-Region, ECC Rookie of the Year and First Team All-ECC. Szczotka played in all 21 games in 2025 with four goals and one assist. Sophomore Camila Salvador took home United Soccer Coaches and D2CCA Second Team All-Region and was named First Team All-ECC as a freshman. The midfielder played in 20 games and had four goals, five assists and 13 points. Also, returning for Nicholson are juniors Alyssa Santiago and Anneliese Becker who were named ECC Second and Third Team All-Conference, respectively, last season.
Nicholson and the Mavericks open their 2026 season on Thursday, August 27th when they play at Edinboro at 12 p.m.
