Mercy College women’s soccer has not been this exciting in many years.  For the last five seasons, the Mavericks have been ranked at the bottom of the East Coast Conference with no chance of successfully competing in the conference tournament .  This season that is all about to change.

With just one game remaining in regular season play, the Mercy Mavericks women’s soccer team has a great opportunity to lock up the number two seed in the East Coast Conference championship tournament.  The Mavericks who are now ranked number 6 in the latest NCAA East Region rankings, posted a 5-2-1conference record in the month of October, are in a tight race with conference foes LIU Post, Robert Wesleyan, Dowling and Queens(N.Y) for the second place birth in the tournament, but with each team having one game remaining on the schedule, there are several different scenarios that could occur, even a four way tie.

On Oct. 23, the Mavericks traveled to Pennsylvania to play a non-conference game against Philadelphia University.  With no goals scored by either team, the match ended in a 0-0 tie.  This was the first tie of the season for the Mavericks.

The Mavericks suffered a tough loss on Oct. 26 in Brookville, New York, losing to conference rival LIU Post by a score of 5-2.  Jackie Karras and Mackenzie Cochrane each scored a goal and Jessica Carrillo chipped in with an assist, but it was not enough to overcome the 5 goal performance of LIU Post.   With this loss the Mavericks fell out of the number 2 spot in the conference.

On Oc. 29, the Mavericks hosted Daemen College in a conference match that would prove to be very one sided.   The Mavericks needed a win to keep pace with the other teams in the conference for the number 2 spot.  After an early unassisted goal by Daemen, the Mavericks kicked back with an overwhelming six unanswered goals.  Caitlin Mckenna led the Maverick attack with 2 goals.  Crystal Mena, Abby Zielinski, Jackie Karras and Jennifer Vega each scored goals as well.  Jessica Carrillo , Meghann, Jackie Karras, Stephanie Manta, Taylor Horgan and Caitlin McKenna each had an assist.  This win helped the Mavericks reach a 6-2 record in the conference, which was extremely important for the seeding for the tournament.

Tuesday also marked a special day for the Mavericks women’s soccer team as they celebrated senior day and honored several of the teams players.  Carla Hager, Jackie Karraas, Stephanie Manta, Caitlin McKenna, Crystal Mena, Viridiana Ortega, Hannah Ritchie, Jennifer Vega and Meghann Warboy were all honored for their outstanding effort and contributions on an off the field during their careers at Mercy.

The East Coast Conference also honored three players from the team as the week seven offensive, defensive and rookie of the week were all Mercy  Mavericks.  Danielle Deeb was the offensive player of the week in the conference.  Deeb scored 2 goals in the Mavericks shutout of Malloy.  Crystal Mena was the conference’s defensive player of the week.  Mena played tough defense against Malloy, only allowing 3 shots on goal.  Nicole Augustine captured the conference’s rookie of the week honors.  Augustine had 2 saves and shutout Malloy.  With that shutout Augustine recored her 7th shutout of the season.  In Week 5 the conference also honored the Mavericks Samantha Longo with the rookie of the week.  Longo was a big contributor to the 2 shutout victories over Nyack and Queens(N.Y).

The Mavericks great defense and explosive offense has earned them  a 6-2 record in the conference and a 11-3-1 record overall.  They have 1 game remaining on the schedule on Nov. 3 where the host Roberts Wesleyan.  The Mavericks would need to win this game and hope that LIU Post looses to Queens(N.Y) on Nov. 2, in order to secure the 2nd seed in the tournament.  The mavericks have already qualified for the tournament and are guaranteed a top seed in the tournament.  There is also potential for a 4 way tie as well, which would leave the Mavericks on top gaining the number 2 seed anyway.  Since Bridgeport has already locked up the number 1 seed in the conference tournament the Mavericks will have to win their last game and let the rest play out.