AMHERST, N.Y. — Sophomore Jamie Boyar (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville South) scored two goals and freshman Katelin White (Lewiston, N.Y./Lewiston-Porter) made nine saves to lift the Daemen College women's soccer team to a 2-0 upset win over regionally-ranked University of Bridgeport today at Karrer Field.
Daemen, which snapped a two-game losing streak, improved to 7-5-1 overall and evened its East Coast Conference record to 3-3-0. Bridgeport, which entered the game ranked ninth in the East Region by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, saw its two-game winning streak come to an end and dropped to 6-6-2 overall and 2-2-1 in the ECC.
It marks the second time this season the Wildcats have knocked off a team ranked among the top-10 teams in the NSCAA East Region poll. Daemen defeated Goldey-Beacom College 2-1 last month a Karrer Field. GBC entered that game undefeated and ranked 10th in the region.
Today's game also marked Daemen's first-ever win over the Purple Knights since first playing a full ECC schedule in 2013. Bridgeport, which was the pre-season favorite to win the ECC title this year, has claimed the last two ECC Championships and has been a regional power for several years. The Purple Knights advanced to the "Final Four" of the NCAA Division II Tournament in 2015 and made it to the "Elite Eight" last year.
Daemen took control of the game after Boyar struck for two goals in the span of six minutes midway through the second half. Boyar, who has now scored a team-high nine goals on the year, broke the scoreless tie in the 68th minute when she scored off a feed from classmate Lindsay Ciaramella (St. George, Ont./Paris District).
The Wildcats doubled their lead just six minutes later when a pass from junior Sarah Britton (Syracuse, N.Y./East Syracuse-Monoa) sent Boyar in alone on UB net minder Jennifer Wendelius (Lidingo, Sweden). Boyar, the reigning ECC Offensive Player of the Week, flicked a shot over Wendelius. The Daemen defense secured the win by allowing just three shots over the final 16 minutes.
After registering just four shots in the first half, Daemen managed nine shots in the second half and finished with 13 total shots and six shots on goal. Bridgeport, which was held scoreless for the sixth time this year, totaled 21 total shots and nine shots on goal.
White, who made five of her nine saves in the first half, has now posted three shutouts on the year. Wendelius finished with four saves.
Today's game marked the final home game of the 2017 season for Daemen, and seniors Kalyn Compeau (Tonawanda, N.Y./Medaille College), Alex Juliano (Hamburg, N.Y./Nardin Academy) and Leah McDonell (North Tonawanda, N.Y./Cardinal O'Hara) were honored in a pre-game ceremony.
Daemen will close out the regular season with four-straight road games, beginning with a trip to Queens College on Wednesday (Oct. 18).
Daemen is now 1-4-0 all-time against Bridgeport…Boyar has now totaled a team-high nine goals and 20 points…she totaled a team-high six goals and 16 points last year as a rookie….she also leads the team shots (53) and shots on goal (27)...she leads the league with six game-winning goals this season, which is the most for a Daemen player since Samantha Engel netted six in 2011...Boyar has started all 29 contests since the start of the 2016 season and she's totaled 15 goals, six assists and 36 points in her career…Daemen is 6-1 this season and 8-3-1 in her career when she scores.
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