The women’s soccer team ended their regular season on a scorching three-game winning streak, the volleyball crew got themselves back in the win column, and Rachel Palladino broke a program record, again. Welcome to the Roundup. It’s time to go chase some hardware.
Mercy is right in the midst of playoff action in both soccer ECC tournaments and the Northeast 10 field hockey tournament. The Mavs will get a chance to defend both of their soccer conference titles after having excellent months of October, combining for an impressive nine wins, while Marissa Spinazzola’s field hockey squad will touch postseason soil for the first time ever after playing their best ball this month.
Now, we wait
Men’s soccer exited the regular season with a win and a loss in their final week of play. The team traveled to New Haven for a non-conference match, losing a close 1-0 game, but responded in a massive way in their season finale at home. The Mavs exploded for a season-high seven goals in a 7-1 victory against Daeman.
There were seven different goal scorers in the match, displaying the talented depth that head coach Pedro Velasquez has at his fingertips. This squad is not only geared for this season but for many more to come. Before the eruption, Mercy had only scored multiple goals once in their last five games. This was exactly the force this team wanted behind them going into their semifinal contest.
The Mavericks get to watch the first round of the tournament with their feet up after earning themselves the No. 2 seed in the ECC. It’s been smooth sailing for this team in 2023, only suffering three losses thus far. They’ll get the winner of Queens/Staten Island this Saturday at noon for an opportunity to return to the championship game.
In case you were wondering, Mercy played both teams this season, beating Queens, 3-1, and tying Staten Island, 0-0. The road to back-to-back titles will not be an easy one, but they wouldn’t have it any other way.
Believe. Believe. Believe.
This Cinderella story isn’t quite over just yet. If you were to ask Rachel Palladino, she would tell you the story is just being written. The belief has never been greater within the Mercy field hockey program, and for valid reasons. The Mavs won five of their last six games of the season to sneak their way into their first-ever playoff berth. An absolutely remarkable achievement
Their postseason hopes looked dead in the water after an uninspiring six-game losing streak to finish September, but not once did they ever wave the white flag.
Mercy beat Southern Connecticut State, 5-1, to close out the regular season in dominating fashion. Palladino continued her historic campaign with a pair of goals, notching her fifth multi-goal game of the year. Kate Ringstad, Kasey Volz, and Rieley Fitzgerald also added tallies in the win.
It’s been a year of new heights for the program. Not only did the team clinch a playoff spot for the first time, but quite a few records have been broken in the process. Rachel Palladino broke the single-season record for goals a few weeks back, and now owns the single-season points record as well with 29.
Kelly Rosenfeld, on top, had a game-high two assists in the game, tying the single-season record herself. It’s been a season to remember, but the team still enters the postseason feeling they have much to prove.
A team that was disrespected in the preseason enters the tournament with the most momentum out of any team in the conference. That’s not exactly a great combination if you’re their opponent.
The Mavs will get an opportunity to avenge their tough 5-2 loss from last week against St. Anselm, taking on the Hawks in the first round at their place tomorrow evening. Let’s go play spoiler.
Another game, Another shut out
Jack Nicholson’s ceiling as a head coach seriously might be the moon. The young leader has continued to evolve as well as the best of them in his first year, and his team has steadily evolved with him. Mercy has won their last three games and five of their last six, wrapping up the regular season slate with a program-defining 2-0 victory over No. 2 seed Daeman.
Madi Rosa scored both goals and now has a career-best four scores on the season, but let’s talk about the brilliance of Kamy Anaya and the Mercy defense, who have shut out their last three opponents while only allowing three total shots in that frame. This defensive unit might be the team’s strongest, which speaks volumes considering the offense has scored an incredible nine goals in that same period. The balance of this team is riveting and makes them an intimidating opposition.
Now on tap is a matchup with an opponent that Mercy feels they left much to be desired in their first meeting. The Mavs will host D’Youville on Thursday for the second match between the two for the chance to play in the semifinals. The teams tied 1-1 in the beginning of the year, but the Mavericks have morphed into a different beast since September 16th.
With an abundance of experience from last year’s team, Mercy is equipped in all areas to win this game.
Volleyball still controls its fate
There’s no need to look in the rearview. Let’s look through the windshield. Mercy controls their destiny in their hunt at another ECC tournament appearance, and that’s all that’s important right now.
The team snapped a four-game losing streak with a commanding 3-0 win over Queens on Sunday, a win that was essential for getting the wheels moving in the right direction again. Samantha Cooney had a team-best 10 digs, and the Yarianne Gonzalez/Larissa Schneid show was on full display once again. Schneid finished with 19 kills on the afternoon and Gonzalez added 37 assists.
Mercy only has four games left sitting as the current No. 4 seed. Their schedule plays in their favor, with their last two conference games coming against the two teams sitting at the bottom of the standings, Roberts Wesleyan and St. Thomas Aquinas. You can never chalk up any opponent, but this must give the team a boost in morale as they search for the extended season.
Their next test comes tomorrow on the road at St. Rose before hosting Roberts Wesleyan this Sunday.
