Campus Overview

Mercy University is a small private Catholic university located in Dobbs Ferry, New York, offering an intimate academic environment with approximately 2,000 students. Nestled in Westchester County, the university provides a close-knit educational experience just outside of New York City.


Location & Setting Suburban setting in Dobbs Ferry, located in Westchester County, approximately 20 miles north of New York City. The campus offers proximity to urban amenities while maintaining a peaceful, relatively quiet suburban atmosphere. Metro-North train stations nearby provide easy access to Manhattan.

Campus Life Small campus with a tight-knit community feel. On-campus housing available, with many students commuting from the local area. Limited Greek life, with emphasis on community-building through academic and service-oriented activities. Weekend culture tends to be low-key, with students often exploring nearby New York City or engaging in campus events and clubs.

Student Body Predominantly local and regional student population, with a mix of New York metro area residents. Diverse student body with significant representation of first-generation college students. Strong Catholic mission influences campus culture, emphasizing service and community engagement.

Academics Known for strong health sciences, nursing, and education programs. Offers personalized learning experiences with low student-to-faculty ratios. Curriculum emphasizes practical skills and experiential learning, with numerous internship opportunities in the New York metropolitan area.

Athletics & Sports Division III athletic program with competitive teams in basketball, soccer, volleyball, and other sports. Strong emphasis on student-athlete academic performance and character development. Moderate campus athletic spirit, typical of a small private university.

Lifestyle & Weather Experiences four distinct seasons, with cold winters and mild summers. Campus is moderately walkable, but having a car can be beneficial for accessing off-campus resources. Proximity to New York City provides numerous recreational and cultural opportunities. Outdoor activities include hiking in nearby Hudson Valley parks and accessing metropolitan entertainment options.

Field Hockey (2025)

Level
D2 Unranked
Conference
Northeast 10 Conference
Coach
Marissa Spinazzola

School

Type
Private
Classification
Master's: Larger Programs
Common Majors:
Health Professions (34%)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (58%)
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other (18%)
• Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General (18%)
• Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (3%)
• Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions (3%)
Business (15%)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (85%)
• Accounting and Related Services (15%)
Psychology (9%)
Social Sciences (8%)
Social Sciences, General (92%)
• International Relations and National Security Studies (5%)
• Sociology (3%)
Homeland Security (5%)

Student Body

Total
7,831
Undergrad
71%
Demographics
68% women
Student:Faculty
15:1

Programs of Interest

Environmental Science
Psychology (9.3%)
Biology (3.2%)
Sports Med / Kinesiology (35.3%)
French (0.1%)

Academics

Admission Rate
86%
Retention
75%
Graduation
48%

Costs

In-State
$22,106
Out-of-State
$22,106
Room & Board
$14,700
Avg Net Price
$15,770
Net price = average after financial aid

Weather

Winter
Moderate
HighLow
January40°23°
April63°40°
July86°64°
October65°45°
Oct/Apr = field hockey season

Location

Setting
Suburban (Suburb: Large)
Nearest City
New York, NY
Distance
22 miles

Coaching Staff

Name Position Contact Bio
Marissa Spinazzola Head Coach mspinazzola@mercy.edu View Bio
Alyssa Sacco Assistant Coach View Bio
Taylor Durkin Assistant Coach View Bio
Kasey Volz Assistant Coach View Bio

Roster Breakdown

19 players

Geographic Recruiting

In-State: 74% (14 players)
US Out-of-State: 26% (5 players)
New York: 74% (14 players)
Pennsylvania: 11% (2 players)

Class Year Distribution

Freshman: 4 (21.1%)
Sophomore: 8 (42.1%)
Junior: 3 (15.8%)
Senior: 3 (15.8%)
5th Year/Grad: 1 (5.3%)

Full Roster (19 players)

# Name Position Year Height Hometown High School
00 McClure - Sr. 5-7 Canastota, N.Y. Canastota
1 Taynor - So. 5-6 Phillipsburg, N.J. Phillipsburg
2 Stella - So. 4-11 Hawley, Pa. Wallenpaupack
3 Bevacqua - Fr. 4-11 Medford, N.Y. Patchogue-Medford
4 Benvengo - Jr. 5-3 East Islip, N.Y. East Islip
5 Preston - Jr. 5-4 Brookfield, Conn. Brookfield
6 Lane - Sr. 5-3 Rocky Point, N.Y. Rocky Point
7 Sabert - So. 5-7 Mohegan Lake, N.Y. Lakeland
8 Brefka - So. 5-4 Cicero, N.Y. Cicero North Syracuse
9 Trickel - Sr. 5-3 Ottsville, Pa. Palisades
10 Conklin - Jr. 5-3 Greenvale, N.Y. North Shore
11 Tepper - So. 5-2 Sayville, N.Y. Patchogue-Medford
12 Evans - Gr. 5-10 Canastota, N.Y. Canastota
15 Walther - Fr. 5-10 Putnam Valley, N.Y. Putnam Valley
16 Santiago - So. 5-0 Smithtown, N.Y. Smithtown West
17 Shea - So. 5-7 Sherrill, N.Y. Vernon Verona Sherrill
22 Smith - Fr. 5-3 Sound Beach, N.Y. Miller Place
25 Felice - Fr. 5-2 Cornish, N.H. Windsor
99 McClure - So. 5-6 Lake Grove, N.Y. Sachem North