Skip To Main Content

Daemen University Athletics

Western New York's Premier Division II Team
Fearless, Integrity, Effort, Respect, Commitment, Excitement
cupello msoc vs rwc 10.4.17
2
Winner Daemen DAEM (4-7 (1-3 ECC))
1
Roberts Wesleyan RWCM (3-8 (1-3 ECC))
Winner
Daemen DAEM
(4-7 (1-3 ECC))
2
Final
1
Roberts Wesleyan RWCM
(3-8 (1-3 ECC))
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT1 F
Daemen DAEM 0 1 1 2
Roberts Wesleyan RWCM 1 0 0 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Mike Miranto, Associate A.D. For Communications

Wildcats Take Thruway Rivalry Game In Dramatic Fashion

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Freshman Sander Johannessen (Skedsmokorset, Norway) picked an opportune time to score the first goal of his career, doing so in the final minute of the first overtime period to deliver a 2-1 victory for the Daemen College men's soccer team under the lights tonight in an East Coast Conference contest at longtime rival Roberts Wesleyan College.

After withstanding two free kicks from dangerous areas and a pair of corner kicks in the overtime period for the hosts, Daemen struck with a feed into the box by freshman midfielder Niklas Ringdahl Bohlin (Fjaras, Sweden) which found its way to Johannessen who finished the play with a low shot that went inside the far right post. Johannessen was mobbed by his teammates as the celebration turned into a huge pile in the middle of the RWC Soccer Stadium pitch.

The win moves Daemen's overall record to 4-7 this season, while also improving to 1-3 in league play. The Wildcats snapped a 27-game winless drought (0-26-1) in ECC games that dated back to the 2014 season. Daemen's last ECC victory prior to tonight was a 2-1 (2OT) defeat of Roberts Wesleyan on Oct. 11, 2014.

The win also came in Bobby McColl's return to his former stomping grounds. The Daemen head coach, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, had previously coached the Roberts Wesleyan women's soccer team from 2013-15.

Roberts Wesleyan, which was picked ninth in the ECC preseason poll, fell to 3-8 overall and to 1-3 in ECC play. 

The Redhawks took a 1-0 lead into halftime after getting on the board with Scott Carson's first tally of the season at the 28:28 mark. A corner kick by Daniel Maxwell found its way to Carson who headed it home.

The game remained tied until Daemen got the equalizer from freshman Noah Keem (Amherst, N.Y.) at the 79:48 mark. Keem scored on a rebound opportunity and classmate Anthony Cupello (Rochester, N.Y.) picked up an assist on the play, his team-leading fourth of the season. For Keem, the reigning ECC Rookie of the Week, it was his third goal in as many games.

Keem had another opportunity late in regulation time, but RWC goalkeeper John Ciavaglia turned it aside, paving the way for the fifth overtime game between the Wildcats and Redhawks since 2013.

In the overtime period, it appeared as if the hosts had won with a goal in the 92nd minute of the contest, but the linesman's flag was up to signal an offsides infraction which wiped out the score. Later, Daemen goalkeeper Mike D"Amato (Orchard Park, N.Y.) came up with a big save on a shot by John Stewart to preserve the tie. That set the stage for Johannessen's heroics as he became the first Daemen freshman with an overtime game-winner since teammate Alex Reid (Lockport, N.Y.) in a 3-2 (2OT) win on the same field against Roberts Wesleyan on Sept. 5, 2013.

D'Amato made six saves in over 99 minutes of action to even his personal goalkeeping record at 2-2 this season. Ciavaglia made four saves in a losing effort for the Redhawks.

"I'm extremely proud of the boys tonight," McColl said afterwards. "It's difficult when you go down early, but the patience shown from this team to trust the process was fantastic. There have been similar games and we've gotten beat, so this is a huge step in the right direction for us."

Daemen looks to make it two in a row when ECC foe Mercy College comes to Karrer Field this Saturday, Oct. 7 for a 1 p.m. start.
Print Friendly Version