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Daemen University Athletics

Western New York's Premier Division II Team
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dolan wsoc 2018 recruits
Head coach Dan Dolan will welcome six new recruits to the women's soccer program in 2018

Women's Soccer By Mike Miranto, Sr. Associate A.D. for External Operations & Communications

Dolan Announces Six Women's Soccer Recruiting Commitments

AMHERST, N.Y. - Six student-athletes have signed letters of intent, confirming earlier verbal commitments to join the Daemen College women's soccer program, head coach Dan Dolan announced today, the opening day of the NCAA Early Signing Period. The signees, all freshmen-to-be, will enroll in classes and join the program beginning in the Fall 2018 semester. They include New York State products Madeline Emmi (Grand Island, N.Y./Christian Central), Kayleigh Daniels (Newfane, N.Y./Newfane), Elise Williams (Clarence, N.Y./Clarence), Grace Stranahan (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) and Katelyn Sidoti (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Athena), as well as out-of-state recruit Alexis Hayes (Goodyear, Ariz./Estrella Foothills).

"I think we've brought in a really good class again," said Dolan, the program's all-time leader in wins who has posted an 80-78-7 record since taking the reins of the program in 2009. "Each player coming in has great experience at the club level, whether it was with the Academy or Elite Clubs National League, and that will only make for an easier transition to the Division II level. I really believe that they will compliment our current players well both on and off the field, and I'm excited for our August training camp to get here."

The six signees join a Daemen program that is coming off its best season since 2013. The Wildcats went 9-7-1 last fall, including a 3-5-0 mark in East Coast Conference play, finishing in sixth place in the league standings, just out of conference tournament contention. In addition to the new blood, Daemen will return players responsible for 21 of their 24 goals and both goalkeepers who saw action in 2017. 

Hayes, Stranahan, Williams and Sidoti figure to aid the Wildcats in the midfield. Hayes has been a three-time first team All-Region selection, and has led Estrella Foothills High School to back-to-back regional championships. In the last two seasons, she's played an integral role in helping the Wolves outscore their opponents 212-15. Hayes notched 17 goals during her junior season, and her senior season is still ongoing as she's led the Wolves into the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs. 

Stranahan comes to Daemen from the storied program at Grand Island High School led by head coach Dave Bowman. While there, Stranahan earned three varsity letters; that came on the heels of two varsity letters earned while beginning her scholastic career at Tonawanda High School. In her junior and senior seasons, she helped the Vikings to a 26-0 record in Niagara Frontier League play, as well as consecutive Section VI Class A championships. A two-time first team All-NFL selection, Stranahan earned first team All-Western New York and fourth team All-State honors this past fall. 

Williams brings an impressive resume as well, despite missing her senior season with an injury. She comes to Daemen after playing four years for coach Dave Stephan and the Clarence Red Devils who have won four consecutive Section VI Class AA and Far West Regional championships. Williams was a second team All-Erie County Interscholastic Conference selection as a junior, and a four-time Clarence Scholar-Athlete Award recipient.

Sidoti recorded 10 points from her midfield position this past season while leading Greece Athena to the Section V Class A championship game. A two-time All-Monroe County selection, Sidoti joins a long line of Greece Athena athletes to don the Daemen blue and white. Next fall, she'll be the sixth active Daemen student-athlete to hail from Greece Athena High School.

The Wildcats expect to bolster their offensive attack with the addition of Daniels, a forward. A three-time All-Niagara-Orleans League honoree, Daniels earned four varsity letters for the Newfane Panthers. She was named the team's Offensive MVP in her final three seasons, and was a second-team All-Western New York selection this past fall. 

Rounding out the signees is Emmi, a 5-foot-4 defender who earned first team All-Msgr. Martin Athletic Association honors this past fall while lettering for the Christian Central Crusaders. Emmi joins a Daemen backline that contributed to the team's 1.48 goals-against average in 2017.

For breaking news and continuing coverage of the Daemen women's soccer team, follow @DaemenAthletics and @DaemenWSOC on Twitter.

   
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