Women's Soccer Set for ECC Semifinal Matchup at Mercy Tuesday

Date: Tuesday, Oct. 30, 1:00 p.m. Location: Mercy Field | Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. Game Links: Watch Live | Live Stats Twitter: @LIUPostPioneers | @LIUPWSOC LIU Post Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats Mercy Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats THE FIRST LOOK The LIU Post women's soccer team (12-2-3, 6-1-2 ECC) captured the No. 3 seed in the East Coast Conference tournament after posting a 6-1-2 record in league play this season. The Pioneers closed out the regular season with five-consecutive shutouts, going 4-0-1 during the stretch. Mercy (12-2-1, 7-1-1 ECC) enters the postseason as the No. 2 seed with a 7-1-1 record in conference play. The Mavericks have spent time in the national polls this season, earning the No. 7 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches poll this past week. The Mavericks also boast the No. 2 ranking in the NCAA Division II East Region poll behind Franklin Pierce University. INSIDE THE SERIES Historically, LIU Post has dominated the series with Mercy, winning 19 of the 22 previous meetings. The Mavericks, however, have had a resurgence as of late, winning two of the last three matchups, including victories during the ECC tournament and NCAA Division II tournament last season. The two squads met on Oct. 13 at Mercy Field, playing to a scoreless draw. During that matchup, Mercy held a slight 18-13 advantage in shot attempts and a 4-1 edge in corner kicks, but senior goalkeeper Hillevi Eklow made a season-high eight saves for her sixth shutout of the season. SCOUTING REPORT LIU Post The Pioneers will be tough to scout for Mercy, as 12 different players have scored for the Green and Gold this season. Junior Julia Duffy leads the Pioneers and ranks third in the conference with 11 goals. Sophomore Sydney Pasquarella and freshman Kendra Oldroyd have added seven goals apiece this season along with one assist for 15 points. Defense has been the key to the Pioneer success, as LIU Post has allowed just 0.76 goals per game, including 13 total goals conceded this season. Opponents are shooting just 9.4-percent, with just over eight shots per game. The Pioneers have held a huge advantage in corner kicks, tallying 111 while allowing just 38. Goal scoring has been a fairly even split between the two halves, with the Pioneers scoring 20 goals during the first 45 minutes and 27 during the second half. LIU Post has yet to lose on the road this season, going 7-0-3 in road contests, with the two losses coming at neutral sites early in the season. The Pioneers have not lost a contest since Saturday, Sept. 15 when they suffered a 2-1 setback to the University of Bridgeport in a game played at Hofstra University due to field conditions at LIU Post. Since then, LIU Post has gone 10-0-3 to close out the regular season and has helped propel the team into the No. 5 ranking in the East Region poll. Mercy It is a very even matchup on paper between these two schools, as Mercy features another very balanced offensive attack with a stout defense. Senior Haley Noble leads the Mavericks with 11 goals, tying Duffy for the third-most in the ECC. 13 different players have found the back of the net for Mercy, with freshman Anicia Reyes and senior Corinna Ferrante adding six and four goals, respectively. Sophomore Melissa Torres is expected to start in goal for the Mavericks, compiling a 12-2-1 record in goal with six shutouts this season. Torres holds a very strong 0.61 goals-against average with an 85-percent save percentage, ranking first in the conference in both categories. Mercy has conceded just 10 goals this season, sporting a 0.67 goals-against average as a team while scoring over two goals per game. Opponents are shooting just 8.1-percent offensively, with the Maverick attack holding a 115-66 edge in shot attempts. While LIU Post has not lost on the road, Mercy has yet to lose at home this season, finishing the regular season 7-0-1 with the only draw coming against the Pioneers in the first matchup.