Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. – Powered by a goal and an assist from senior Heidi Serna (West Covina, Calif./South Hills), the No. 2 seeded Mercy College women's soccer team earned a 3-1 victory over No. 3 seeded Southern New Hampshire University in the Second Round of the 2017 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship on Sunday afternoon at Mercy Field.
The Mavericks (17-3) have won four games in a row and advance to the East Region Final for the first time since 2014. Mercy also matches the school record for wins in a season previously set by the 2014 team. Mercy will take on No. 4 LIU Post in the Third Round on Friday at a time and site to be announced. The Penmen (15-3-5) see their season end with a loss after earning the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament win.
Serna had two shots and now has 11 goals on the year. Junior Corinna Ferrante (Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) and sophomore Natalia Elizarraras (Whittier, Calif./Los Altos) also scored, recording their seventh and second goals of the year. Juniors Kendall Wright (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo) and Haley Noble (Torrance, Calif./Torrance) contributed assists and freshman Melissa Torres (La Mirada, Calif./La Mirada) made six saves to earn the win.
Southern New Hampshire was led by Trisha Luis who had a game-high four shots on goal and recorded the lone goal of the game. Paige Salmon made five saves to take the loss.
In front of the largest crowd of the season, the Mavericks opened the game on the offensive with the first three shots of the game. Sophomore Jessica Brandt (Folsom, Calif./Folsom) had the best scoring chance early on as her shot in the 17th minute hit the crossbar. Sophomore Ally Boots (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza) followed with a shot that was stopped by Salmon just three seconds later.
It remained 0-0 with Salmon making three saves and Torres adding one stop heading into the 40th minute. The Mavericks finally broke through with the game's first goal in the 40th minute when Wright sent a cross to Ferrante who chipped the ball over the goalkeeper into the right side of the net to put Mercy up 1-0.
The score remained 1-0 at halftime with Mercy holding an 8-3 edge in shots.
The Penmen opened the second half with a shot by Emily Roan that was stopped by Torres in the 52nd minute. After a Mercy foul in the box in the 59th minute, Luis scored on a penalty kick to even the score up at 1-1.
The score was tied 1-1 heading to the last six minutes of the contest when Noble played a ball through to Serna who shot the ball into the lower left side of the goal to put Mercy out in front 2-1 in the 85th minute. Luis followed with a shot on goal, but Torres came up with another save to keep the Mavericks up 2-1. Mercy would put the game away in the 87th minute when Serna sent a cross in front of the net that was finished off by Elizarraras to increase the Mavericks advantage to 3-1.
Mercy held on the rest of the way to secure the win and advance to the Third Round of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history.
The Mavericks held a 13-9 edge in shots and a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks.
Head Coach Jonathan Feinstein and the Mavericks will take on No. 4 LIU Post on Friday, November 17th at a time and location to be announced.
Provided by the Mercy Sports Information Department.
