CHARLESTON, W. Va. – Powered by goals from freshman Marvin Spets (Oslo, Norway/Blindern Videregaaende Skole) and senior Mario de Roque Zazón (Zaragoza, Spain/Newman University) and a game-high six saves from graduate student Sean Green (Asheville, N.C./Lees-McRae College), the No. 9 seeded Mercy University Men's Soccer Team earned a 2-1 win over No. 8 seeded Franklin Pierce University in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday afternoon at the Welch Athletic Complex.
The Mavericks (13-5-3) win their first NCAA Tournament game since 2018 in their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2022. Mercy advances to the Second Round where they will play at No. 1 seed University of Charleston on Sunday, November 15th at 3 p.m. The three-time National Champion Ravens (9-6-4) see their season end in the NCAA Tournament for the seventh straight season. Mercy now has their most wins since 2019 and will look to win two games in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history on Sunday.
Green made two early saves in the first half before Spets gave the Mavericks a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute, off an assist from senior John Hollis (Bradford, England/West Virginia Wesleyan College). Green made another save before Franklin Pierce recorded scored off an own goal, tying the game at 1-1 in the 25th minute.
Green closed the half with a save and the score remained 1-1 at halftime.
Green made another stop to start the second half before de Roque Zazón scored in the 68th minute, following an assist from junior Joel Martinez (Madrid, Spain/Mount Aloysius College), giving the Mavericks a 2-1 lead.
Green stopped a final shot in the 72nd minute and a Ravens shot hit the crossbar in the 73rd minute, but the Mavericks were able to hold the lead, giving Mercy the 2-1 NCAA Tournament win.
Mercy was led by Spets who scored his fourth goal of the season and by de Roque Zazón who netted his fourth goal of the year and second game-winning goal of the year. Hollis added his Division II-leading 16th assist of the year and Martinez dished out his first assist of the season. Green made a game-high six saves to earn his ninth win of the season.
Franklin Pierce was led by Toby Lewis who made one save to take the loss.
Franklin Pierce held a 14-5 edge in shots, a 6-3 edge in shots on goal and a 5-0 edge in corner kicks.
Head Coach Pedro Velazquez and the Mavericks resume action on Sunday, November 15th when they play at University of Charleston in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament at 3 p.m.