Firebirds Erupt for Five First Half Goals in 5-0 Victory vs. Mercy

WASHINGTON, DC – The University of the District of Columbia men's soccer team erupted for five first half goals as the Firebirds coasted to their 3^rd straight victory, 5-0 vs. Mercy College in both teams' East Coast Conference opener Saturday afternoon at UDC Field.

UDC (4-2, 1-0 ECC), which had not hosted a home game on campus since 2013, treated a Firebird crowd of approximately 50 fans to the most goals scored in one half of play since this exact day, September 16^th, in 2010, when the Firebirds defeated Lincoln University, 10-0. The five goals was also the most in an entire game by a UDC team since a 5-2 victory vs. Molloy on October 2^nd, 2013.

The Mavericks, who had won three of their last four games, fell to 3-3 overall and 0-1 to start league play. UDC has now won each of the last four meetings vs. Mercy College going back to 2014.

The Firebirds were led offensively by sophomore midfielder Gabriel Torres (two goals, one assist) and junior midfielder Kelvin Hererra (two goals). Senior defender Victor Salinas Furio headed in UDC's 4^th goal, and senior forward Raphael Pacano was credited with the assist on UDC's 3^rd goal scored by Hererra.

Torres got the Firebird offensive onslaught started in the 18^th minute when he beat Mercy goalkeeper Kwantarian Van der Lara to the left side of the net on a direct kick from about 25 yards out. About seven minutes later, Torres sent a cross into the box that found the feet of a waiting Hererra, who blasted a shot home to make it 2-0, UDC. Less than five minutes after that, a cross from Pacano found Hererra waiting in the box again to hammer in his 2^nd goal to give UDC a 3-0 lead.

Later, in the 39^th minute, Salinas Furio was playing up in the box on a corner kick, and alertly headed home a Firebirds' 2^nd opportunity off a failed clear attempt by a Mavericks defender. Shortly after that, Torres scored his 2^nd goal of the game and 5^th goal of the season on a penalty kick right around the 40-minute mark to make it, 5-0.

In the 2^nd half, the two teams took four shots apiece but neither team located a shot on goal. UDC freshman starting goalkeeper Luis Aguirre improved to 3-0 on the season as he stopped the only two shots he faced in the first half. He shared the shutout victory with sophomore Joao Brusamolin (36:32) and senior Ever Alvarez (8:28).

Van der Lara, who had only allowed three goals through five games this season, allowed five goals today while making four saves in a complete game losing effort for Mercy.

Next up, UDC will travel to Philadelphia to take on East Region non-conference opponent, Holy Family on Wednesday, September 20^th at 4 p.m.