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Rockville Centre, N.Y. – The third-seeded Molloy men's soccer team will host the sixth-seeded University of the District of Columbia Firebirds in the First Round of the East Coast Conference Tournament Thursday, October 29 at John A. Darcy Field.
 
About the Lions:

• Molloy finished the regular season 3-1-4 in ECC play (5-3-7 overall).
• The Lions clinched the third-seed in the regular season finale, defeating No. 24 Mercy, 3-1, at John A. Darcy Field.
• The cardinal and white garnered three All-ECC Second Team selections. Graduate student Matt Star, sophomore Jack Veletanga, and freshman Mael Pierre Paul.
• Veletanga enters the tournament ranked tied for fourth in the ECC with 14 points, while leading the team with five goals and four assists. The sophomore has been one of the most accurate offensive players, totaling a 48 shots on goal percentage coming into post season play.
• Pierre Paul has been an instant spark plug for the Lions, sitting second on the team with 10 points and three goals while tying for the team lead with four assists. The freshman scored the contests game-winning goal against No. 24 Mercy helping the Lions clinch the third-seed in the playoffs.
• The Lions have four other members of the squad with at least two goals: graduate student Jack Hynes, juniors Sean Lee and Charlie Morgan, and freshman Massimo Bruno.
• In goal, the squad has seen a near even split between senior Anthony Martinez and junior Callum Hunt. Hunt has appeared and started in nine games this season, totaling 37 saves, a 84 percent save percentage, and a 0.82 goals against average through 767 minutes. The junior has collected three shut outs while allowing seven goals to collected a 2-1-5 record in net.
• Martinez has seen action in seven contests, making six starts. The senior has tallied 35 saves and an 83 percent save percentage while allowing 1.08 goals per game. The Bay Shore native has compiled a 3-2-2 record and one shut out entering the postseason.
• First year Head Coach John Fitzgerald will lead the Lions into the post season as a top-three seed for the first time since 2022 and will host a playoff game for the first time since the ECC Final in 2024. 

Against the University of the District of Columbia:

• The two squads met two and a half weeks ago in Rockville Centre during senior day on October 10.
• The contest came down to the final minutes as Star netted the game-tying goal with 1:41 remaining to secure a 1-1 draw.
• The contest saw Lee assist on the game's game-tying goal and Martinez make four saves. 

Playoff History:

• Molloy returns to postseason play for the fifth time in the last six seasons.
• The Lions earned the sixth-seed in last year's East Coast Conference championship, falling to third-seeded STAC, 3-1, November 5, 2025.
• The meeting between Molloy and UDC will mark the third time they will matchup in the ECC Tournament.
• The two squads last met November 17, 2024 in the ECC final in Rockville Centre with the Firebirds clinching the crown 2-1 in overtime.
• The first meeting between the two in the postseason came in 2021, where after regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods, the Lions earned the victory in a shootout. 

Scouting the Firebirds:

• UDC concluded the season 3-3-2 in East Coast Conference play and 8-5-4 overall.
• The Firebirds sport four All-Conference selections, paced by Isaiah Daniel and Zachary Parker on the Second Team and rounded out by Christopher Ruiz and Lorenzo Herrera on the third team.
• Daniel leads the squad with 14 points on the back of four goals and six assists while Ruiz leads all platers with six goals on the season. In goal, Herrera had collected a league-leading 85 saves and 85 percent save percentage, while holding a 0.97 goals against average.
• In the contest against Molloy this season, Daniel collected a goal and Herrera made five saves.
• Molloy is 5-6-5 all-time against UDC.