AMHERST, N.Y. — A goal by senior Heidi Serna (West Covina, Calf.) with just 4:25 left in regulation play lifted the Mercy College women's soccer team to a 3-2 victory over upset-minded Daemen College today at Karrer Field.

Mercy, which entered the game receiving votes in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Division II poll and ranked third in the East Region, ran its winning streak to eight games and improved to 10-1-0 overall and 4-0-0 in the East Coast Conference. Daemen, which had won six of its previous eight games, dropped to 6-4-1 overall and 2-3-0 in the ECC.

The game appeared headed to overtime before the Mavericks took advantage of a quick restart following a Daemen foul. Sophomore Jessica Brandt (Folsom, Calf.) jumped up after being fouled about 40 yards from the Daemen net and served the ball to the left side of the box. Classmate Ally Boots (Yorba Linda, Calf.) deflected the ball in mid air back towards the center of the box, where Serna then deflected it past Daemen net minder Katelin White (Lewiston, N.Y./Lewiston-Porter). It marked the fourth goal of the year for Serna.

Serna also played a role in the first goal of the game, as she assisted on a tally by junior Corinna Ferrante (Patchogue, N.Y.) in the 23rd minute.

Daemen evened the score at 1-1 just seven minutes later. Sophomore Lindsay Ciaramella (St. George, Ont./Paris District) collected a loose ball near midfield and slid a perfect pass to classmate Jamie Boyar (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville South), who held off a Mercy defender and sent a low shot from the left side to the right corner of the Mercy net. It marked the team-leading seventh goal of the year for Boyar, who has now scored at least one goal in six of the last nine games.

Mercy wasted no time in regaining the lead, as the Mavericks executed a set piece off a corner kick that resulted in a goal by sophomore RaeAnn Ioannou (Bethpage, N.Y.) just three minutes after Boyar's tally. Mercy took the 2-1 lead into halftime following an evenly played first half that saw the visitors post a slim 8-7 edge in total shots.

The Wildcats evened the score just 1:12 into the second half. Boyar took a pass from midfield and eventually took a hard shot from the right flank that forced Mercy net minder Ashley Price (Goodyear, Ariz.) to make a diving save. Senior Alex Juliano Hamburg, N.Y./Nardin Academy) collected the rebound and sent a shot past Price for her first goal of the season.

Mercy carried play throughout the remainder of the second half, outshooting the hosts 13-4 after Daemen tied the game at 2-2. The Mavericks, who entered the game averaging nearly 16 shots a game, finished with a 21-13 advantage in total shots. Both teams registered nine shots on goal.

"We had a specific game plan going into the game and I thought we executed it really well," said Daemen head coach Dan Dolan. "We were unfortunate not to grab a couple more goals. I am very proud of the team and we will keep building from this."

Daemen's offense put up some good numbers against one the top defenses in the ECC. Mercy had held six of its first 10 opponents scoreless and the Mavericks entered the game allowing an average of six total shots and three shots on goal a game. Daemen's 13 total shots and nine shots on goal were the most surrendered by Mercy in a game all season. In addition, prior to today nationally-ranked Adelphi University was only the team to score more than one goal against the Mavericks this season.

White went the distance in goal for the Wildcats and finished with six saves. Freshman Melissa Torres (La Mirada, Calf.) started between the pipes for Mercy and made four saves. Price played the entire second half and stopped three shots.

Daemen returns to action Tuesday (Oct. 10) when it hosts Mercyhurst University in a non-league game.

GAME NOTES: Daemen remained winless (0-5-0) in the all-time series with Mercy...Boyar's three points gives her a team-high seven goals and 16 points…she totaled a team-high six goals and 16 points last year as a rookie….she also leads the team shots (41) and shots on goal (22)...she leads the league with five game-winning goals this season, which is the most for a Daemen player since Samantha Engel netted six in 2011...Boyar has started all 27 contests since the start of the 2016 season and she's totaled 13 goals, six assists and 32 points in her career…Daemen suffered its first loss this season when Boyar scores…Daemen is 5-1 this season and 7-3-1 in her career when she scores.

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