NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Mercy University Men's Soccer Team plays at Southern Connecticut State University on Sunday, September 13th at 12 p.m.

Who, When and Where

Date/Time: Sunday, September 13th 12 p.m.

Records: Mercy (3-1-1), Southern Connecticut State (0-1-2)

Location: New Haven, Conn.

Last Meeting vs. Southern Connecticut State

Mercy dropped a 1-0 decision to Southern Connecticut State on October 4, 2025.  

Scouting the Mavericks

Mercy is coming off a 3-2 win over West Chester on Wednesday. The Mavericks were led by senior Jacob Darwesh Lund-Iversen who had a hat trick and by senior John Hollis who recorded three assists. Mercy looks to defeat the Owls for the first time since 2023. The Mavericks look to win at Southern Connecticut State for the first time since 2013. The Mavericks are ranked No. 5 in the latest United Soccer Coaches East Region Poll. Junior Philip Hauge was named ECC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, junior Harry Cooke was named Goalkeeper of the Week and Lund-Iversen was tabbed to the Honor Roll. Lund-Iversen was named ECC Offensive Player of the Week on August 31st and senior Mario de Roque Zazón was tabbed to the Honor Roll.

The Mavericks have been led by Lund-Iversen who has a team-high 13 points on six goals and one assist. De Roque Zazón has two goals and Hauge has one goal. Seniors John Hollis has a team-high four assists and junior Herman Borke has two assists. Senior Diego Guzmán, juniors Marcos Landivar and Juan Gonzalez and freshman Marvin Spets each have one assist. Graduate student Sean Green is 1-1 in goal with nine saves, a .750 save percentage and 1.50 goals-against average. Cooke is 2-0-1 with 13 saves, a .867 save percentage and 0.67 goals-against average.

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.

Scouting the Owls

Southern Connecticut State is coming off a 1-1 draw against Felician on September 5th. The Owls went 8-5-4 last season, qualifying for the NE10 Championship. Southern Connecticut State was picked fifth in the NE10 Preseason Poll. The Owls have been led by Alessandro Bacabac who has a team-high two goals and four points. Jimmy Choi has a goal and an assist and Giancarlo Ciotoli has one goal. Hector Diez Viota is 0-1-2 in goal with 10 saves, a .625 save percentage and 2.00 goals-against average.

Next Game

Mercy hosts American International on Wednesday, September 16th at 3:30 p.m.