RINDGE, N.H. – The No. 9 Mercy University Women's Soccer Team plays at RV Franklin Pierce University on Saturday, September 5th at 1 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Saturday, September 5th 1 p.m.
Records: #9 Mercy (2-0-1), RV Franklin Pierce (1-2)
Location: Rindge, N.H.
Last Meeting vs. Franklin Pierce
Mercy dropped a 2-1 decision at Franklin Pierce on November 23, 2025.
Scouting the Mavericks
The Mavericks are coming off a 0-0 draw at Chestnut Hill on Wednesday. Mercy was led by senior Angelina Ortiz who had a game-high three shots on goal. The Mavericks look to defeat the Ravens for the first time in program history. Freshman Roslyn Almodovar was named ECC Rookie of the Week on Monday and junior Hailey Metzger was tabbed to the Honor Roll. Mercy is ranked No. 9 nationally in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll and is ranked No. 1 in the East Region Poll.
Mercy has been led by Metzger who has a team-high five points on two goals and one assist. Almodovar is second on the team with three points on a goal and an assist and freshmen Elizabeth Crawford and Astrid Borglund and sophomore Gracie DiPalo each have a goal. Junior Blake Goldstein and freshman Connor Leahy both have a team-high two assists and sophomore Casey Szczotka also has one assist. Junior Heiddis Sigurdardottir is 1-0-1 in goal in three starts with four saves and two shutouts. Junior Anneliese Becker earned the win against Goldey-Beacom making one save in the second half.
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 Ravens
Franklin Pierce is coming off a 1-0 win over American International on Wednesday. The Ravens went 17-3-5 last season, finishing as National Runner-Ups. Franklin Pierce is receiving votes nationally in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll and is ranked No. 5 in the East Region Poll. The Ravens have been led by Aino Martikainen who has a team-high three points on a goal and an assist and Camille Berenguer and Isabella Hernandez Diaz both have a goal. Ryan Rosario is 1-1 in goal with three saves, a .600 save percentage and 1.00 goals-against average and Jess LaCroix is 0-1 with three saves, a .429 save percentage and 4.00 goals-against average.
Next Game
Mercy plays at Dominican on Wednesday, September 9th at 3:30 p.m.
