AMHERST, N.Y. – The Mercy University Women's Soccer Team plays at ECC foe Daemen University on Saturday, September 26th at 11 a.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Saturday, September 26th 11 a.m.
Records: Mercy (4-2-3, 1-0 ECC), Daemen (1-6-1, 0-1 ECC)
Location: Amherst, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. Daemen
Mercy earned a 4-1 win over Daemen on November 9, 2025.
Scouting the Mavericks
The Mavericks are coming off a 1-1 draw at Southern New Hampshire on Wednesday. Mercy was led by freshman Astrid Borglund who scored a goal and by senior Femke Demets who had an assist. The Mavericks are 13-3 all-time against Daemen and look to win at Daemen for the first time since 2022. Mercy looks to start 2-0 in ECC play for the first time since 2022. Borglund was named ECC Offensive Player of the Week on Monday and Leahy and sophomore Casey Szczotka were named to the Honor Roll. Senior Femke Demets was named ECC Defensive Player of the Week on September 14th, Becker was tabbed Goalkeeper of the Week, and freshman Elizabeth Crawford was named to the Honor Roll. Freshman Roslyn Almodovar was named ECC Rookie of the Week on August 31st, and junior Hailey Metzger was tabbed to the Honor Roll. Mercy is ranked No. 7 in the latest United Soccer Coaches East Region Top 10 Poll.
Mercy has been led by Metzger who has a team-high six points on two goals and two assists. Borglund has a team-high five goals and 10 points and Leahy is second on the team with seven points by way of two goals and three assists. Senior Ella Gallino has five points on two goals and an assist and freshman Elizabeth Crawford has two goals. Freshman Roslyn Almodovar and senior Femke Demets both have three points on a goal and an assist and freshman Khloe Welch, junior Ana Polychroniades and sophomore Gracie DiPalo each have a goal. Junior Blake Goldstein has a team-high-tying three assists and sophomores Casey Szczotka and Camila Salvador both have two assists. Sophomore Alyssa Cedeno has one assist. Junior Heiddis Sigurdardottir is 2-1-2 in goal in six starts with 15 saves and two shutouts. Junior Anneliese Becker is 2-1-1 with seven saves and a 1.33 goals-against average.
Mercy is coming off a season in which they went 14-4-3, winning the ECC Regular Season Championship and qualifying for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022. The Mavericks advanced to the ECC Championship Final and the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. Head Coach Jack Nicholson and Mercy look to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the seventh time in nine seasons and make the ECC Championship for the 13th straight season. The Mavericks were picked first in the ECC Preseason Poll and are ranked No. 25 nationally in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll. Junior Hailey Metzger and senior Sarah Lill Hanks were named the ECC Preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year. Metzger returns after being named United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-Region, D2CCA Second Team All-Region and Second Team All-ECC last season. The forward finished with nine goals, 12 assists, and 30 points in 2025. Hanks was named ECC Defensive Player of the Year last season, United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-Region, D2CCA First Team All-Region and First Team All-ECC. Hanks started all 21 games, leading the team in minutes played with 1,892 while leading a defense that ranked second in the ECC in goals against average. Nicholson also returns sophomore Casey Szczotka who was named ECC Rookie of the Year in 2025 and was named United Soccer Coaches and D2CCA Second Team All-Region and First Team All-ECC. She played in all 21 games in 2025 and had four goals and one assist. Sophomore Camila Salvador returns after being named United Soccer Coaches and D2CCA Second Team All-Region and First Team All-ECC last season. Salvador played 20 games and had four goals, five assists, and 13 points. Juniors Alyssa Santiago and Anneliese Becker also return after being named ECC Second and Third Team All-Conference, respectively, last season. Becker went 14-4-3 in goal last season with 57 saves, a .770 save percentage and 0.85 goals-against average with nine shutouts. Senior Ella Gallino and sophomore Gracie DiPalo return after combining for seven goals and one assist in 2025 and juniors Blake Goldstein and Sophia Campites and sophomore Rosa Pistone are back after finishing with a combined two goals and two assists a year ago. Senior Angelina Ortiz appeared in 18 games making four starts last season and also returning are senior Sarah Davi, juniors Dakota Dieumegard, Ana Polychroniades and Alexia Tavantzis, and sophomores Alyssa Cedeno, Maeve Connelly, Ella Russo, Kelis Guzmán, Peighton McKenna and Christie Clark.
Nicholson also welcomes a strong recruiting class, highlighted by Division I transfers senior Femke Demets and junior Heiddis Sigurdardottir. Both Demets and Sigurdardottir transfer from University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Demets joined the team in the spring of 2026. Nicholson brings in eight freshmen as well to the 2026 squad. Madeline Dzurik joined the team in the spring of 2026 and fellow freshmen Khloe Welch, Connor Leahy, Elizabeth Crawford, Astrid Borglund, Madison Reynolds, Jesslene Garcia and Roslyn Almodovar will look to contribute immediately.
Hanks and Santiago will serve as team captains during the 2026 season.
Scouting the Wildcats
Daemen is coming off a 4-1 loss at American International on Tuesday. The Wildcats went 11-6-1 last season, advancing to the Semifinals of the ECC Championship. Daemen was picked third in the ECC Preseason Poll. The Wildcats are led by Macayla Hansen who has a team-high five points on two goalsm and one assist. Zainab Khalid and Bridey McKenzie both have two goals and Rylee Kumer is 1-6-1 in goal with 56 saves, a .709 save percentage and 2.88 goals-against average.
Next Game
Mercy hosts Roberts Wesleyan on Saturday, October 3rd at 2:30 p.m.
