An unstoppable Mercy women’s soccer coming off a five-game winning streak at 8-4-1 is playing their best game so far this season. This team is on the verge of returning to the ECC tournament to win the conference title which they missed out on last year.
The streak ties for second most wins streaks in Mercy women’s soccer history with 2021 and behind the most win streak of ten in the 2022 season. The biggest surprise is that the foundation that the team has worked on all season has continue to improve and sets them up to have hope of accomplishing the goals established preseason.
During the win streak, Mercy outscored their opponents by an average of three points a game and giving away 0.2 points a game. Their aggressive defense and offense were the key to the team’s consecutive wins in the five games. The soccer team also had back-to-back players of the week from senior captain forward/midfielder, Skyler Schwenkler for defensive award and freshman goalkeeper, Anneliese Becker for rookie award.
Schwenkler stole four shot attempts and posted two shutouts in the two games against Chestnut Hill and the College of Staten Island in week six. Becker had a total combine of six saves and a shutout against Dominican and Jefferson in week seven.
Since then, the team tied against Jefferson and dropped their last three games one at home against Queens College and two on the road against Daemen and Southern Connecticut State. Coach Nicholson felt that his team did not execute to score the ball into the goal and gave away points to their opponents. The team’s struggles push them down to fourth place in the standings with only one game remaining of the season.
Women’s soccer has experience adversity this season when it comes to losing games and being aware as a group that they can bounce back from droughts to get in the win column. They are a real good team when they’re playing efficiently and putting on a show for the crowds in the stands. The difficult non-conference and conference schedule allows the team to evaluate their success and mistakes on the field.
The team has to play with control of trying to score more goals and keeping opponents from scoring which they conquered during the win streak. They have to fix the mistakes in the last three games that were not working for the team and can be improved for another opportunity to win the final game.
Mercy women’s soccer goals of finishing this season on a high note and making back to the NCAA Tournament are on the line with a disappointing seeding placement where they will have to play in the first round on the road. They have important adjustments to make in prep for the ECC Tournament if they plan on making a run to the finals.
Mercy currently 8-7-2 (3-3 ECC) wraps up the season at home against crosstown rival St. Thomas Aquinas on Senior Day Saturday to finish the year on a positive note before the playoffs begin.
