BUFFALO, N.Y. (Sept. 16, 2023) – Powered by a game-high two goals from senior Carlos Fernandes (Lisbon, Portugal/Spring Hill College), the Mercy University men's soccer team earned a 3-0 win over D'Youville University in their ECC opener on Saturday afternoon at Dobson Field.

The Mavericks (3-1-2, 1-0 ECC) remain unbeaten in their last five games and win their ECC opener for the fifth straight season. Mercy improves to 3-0 all-time against the Saints (0-5, 0-2 ECC).

Mercy was led by Fernandes who had a game-high two goals and now has a team-high-tying three goals on the year. Freshman Diego Guzmán (Santiago, Chile/Everest) added his first collegiate goal and graduate student Phillimon Bédard-Khalid (Miami, Fla./Presbyterian College) and sophomore Mateo Bacigalupo (Buenos Aires, Argentina/Colegio Cardenal Newman) each had an assist. Junior Eirik Elvestad (Oslo, Norway/Blindern VGS) made one save to earn the win and his third shutout of the season.

D'Youville was led by Aaron Baffour who had a shot on goal and by Jake Marks who made a game-high 11 saves to take the loss.

Fernandes struck for the game's first goal in the 9th minute of action, following a pass from Bédard-Khalid, to give Mercy an early 1-0 lead. Fernandes found the back of the net for a second time in the 12th minute, after a Bacigalupo assist, to put the Mavericks up 2-0 early.

Guzmán netted his first collegiate goal in the 27th minute to make it 3-0. The score remained 3-0 at halftime.

Mercy dominated again in the second half, outshooting the Saints 15-1, but were unable to score again. Elvestad made his lone save in the 73rd minute to keep D'Youville off the scoreboard and the Mavericks earned the 3-0 win in their ECC opener.

Mercy held a 29-4 edge in shots and a 14-1 edge in shots on goal. The Mavericks also held an 8-0 edge in corner kicks.

Head Coach Pedro Velazquez and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, September 23rd when they play at Queens at 7:30 p.m.