Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. – Powered by two penalty kick saves from junior Melissa Torres (La Mirada, Calif./La Mirada), the No. 2 seeded Mercy College women's soccer team and No. 7 seeded Southern New Hampshire University played to a 0-0 tie with the Mavericks advancing by winning penalty kicks, 4-2, in an NCAA Tournament First Round matchup on Friday afternoon at Mercy Field.
The Mavericks (13-3-3) advance to the Second Round for the second time in three years, while the Penmen (10-6-2) see their season end in penalty kicks in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. Mercy advances past the Penmen in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years and avenges a loss to Southern New Hampshire in their season opener.
Torres made five saves in regulation and both overtimes to post a shutout and senior Jess Brandt (Folsom, Calif./Folsom) had a team-high two shots on goal. Junior Kaitlyn Denning (Peoria, Ariz./Mountain Ridge) added a shot on goal and senior Natalia Elizarraras (Whittier, Calif./Los Altos) had a team-high four shots.
Southern New Hampshire was led by Sydney Carney who had a team-high four shots. Hannah Rose made three saves to record a shutout.
The opening half saw Torres make two saves in the first 27 minutes of action. Elizarraras then hit the crossbar in the 34th minute, but the score remained 0-0. Torres made another stop in the 39th minute and the teams headed into halftime scoreless.
The Mavericks had a great scoring chance in the 67th minute when a Denning shot went just right of the net. Torres made her fourth save in the 89th minute and the teams went to overtime still scoreless.
Brandt had two shots on goal in the first overtime and Denning added another but all three were stopped by Rose. Torres made her final save of the day in the 99th minute to send the teams into double overtime.
Neither team recorded a shot in the second overtime so penalty kicks would be needed to decide which team advanced.
Shae Roys started the penalty kicks for the Penmen with a make and Elizarraras countered with a make of her own. Jordan Butters then converted for Southern New Hampshire and Brandt followed with a make to tie the score up at 2-2. Torres then stepped up and stopped an Allyson Patterson attempt before sophomore Sydney Cooper (Long Beach, Calif./Los Alamitos) found the back of the net to put Mercy up 3-2. Torres wasn't done yet as she stopped a Maddie Austin attempt to keep the Mavericks in front. Sophomore Claudia McKail (Santa Clarita, Calif./Canyon) then buried her attempt to give Mercy the penalty kick win.
Southern New Hampshire held a 13-11 edge in shots and Mercy held a 7-3 edge in corner kicks.
Head Coach Danny Leon Jr. and the Mavericks resume action on Sunday, November 24th when they host Molloy in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament at 12 p.m.
Provided by the Mercy Sports Information Department.
