GAME INFORMATION & LINKS
Game #1
Daemen Wildcats (1-0, 0-0 ECC) vs. Goldey-Beacom Lightning (1-0, 0-0 CACC)
Saturday, Sept. 1 | 1:00 p.m.
Wilmington, Del. | Nancy Churchman Sawin Field
Live Stats
 
Game #2
Daemen Wildcats (1-0, 0-0 ECC) vs. Wilmington Wildcats (0-0, 0-0 CACC)
Monday, Sept. 3 | 11:00 a.m.
Wilmington, Del. | Wilmington University Athletic Complex
Live Stats
Live Video

OH DANNY BOY
Head coach Dan Dolan returns to the Wildcats for his tenth season in 2018. Since taking over the program in 2009, Dolan has led Daemen to an 80-78-7 record, establishing himself as the program's all-time winningest coach. After going 9-7-1 in 2017, Dolan looks to carry the momentum of that successful campaign into the 2018 season. Dolan's best season came back in 2011 when the Wildcats went 15-4 overall and 11-1 in their final season as a member of the now-defunct American Mideast Conference. He went on to lead the program to three-straight appearances in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) national championship game during the team's transition to NCAA Division II, winning the title in 2012.

ECC PRESEASON POLL
After a vote of the league's head coaches, Daemen has been picked to finish seventh in the East Coast Conference this season, up one spot up from last year's poll. The Wildcats posted a 9-7-1 overall record and a 3-5 mark in the ECC last season. Daemen finished sixth in the conference last year. Mercy was picked to finish first after going 18-4-1 overall and 7-1 in the ECC last season. 

POINT PRODUCTION
Daemen returns its top three point producers from last year in junior forward Jamie Boyar (11 gls, 3 ast, 25 pts), Celia De Pablo Esteban (4 gls, 3 ast, 11 pts) and Lindsay Ciaramella (2 gols, 5 ast, 9 pts). Boyar led the team and ranked fifth among all ECC players in goals en route to earning third team all-conference honors. Of her 11 goals, seven went down as game-winners tying her for the league lead in that category. She has started all 33 games over the last two seasons and has produced at more than a one-point-per-game clip for her career (17 gls, 7 ast, 41 pts). Ciaramella and de Pablo Esteban are often starting the offensive attack in the midfield. Ciaramella led the team in assists last season.

BETWEEN THE PIPES
Sophomores Maddie Flores and Katelin White continue their battle from last season for the starting goalkeeper position. The pair each saw playing time last year, and both experienced their share of success, combining for three ECC Rookie of the Week and two ECC Defensive Player of the Week selections. White played in and started 13 games last year for the Wildcats, while Flores started four and played in seven. Together, they combined to post a .805 save percentage and a 1.48 goals against average in 2017. Flores got the start in the opening game against Bloomfield giving up two goals in the process, both coming off goalkeeper mistakes.

VETERAN PRESENCE
Nine of Daemen's 11 starters from 2017 all return to the lineup with more experience. Leading the back line is seniors Monique Green and Alex Valenti who have combined for 98 games played and 86 games started in their careers. Sophomore Sam D'Agostino will look to capitalize on her freshman campaign after starting 15 games in the back. The trio of Green, Valenti and D'Agostino played a large role in helping Daemen rank sixth in the league in goals against average last season. 
 
FRESHMAN CLASS
Daemen features five freshman this year who look to contribute significant minutes. Elise Williams is a calm and composed midfielder who quarterbacks the field when she is on. She is a smooth player with good vision and can provide defensive help for the back line. Grace Stranahan and Kate Sidoti will both look to get into the attacking side with good dribbling and vision on the ball. Their poise on the ball will be key on the pitch to help pilot the midfield. Kayleigh Daniels is an added forward for the Wildcats this season who has the pace and agility to create scoring chances. Madeline Emmi is an outside back with good awareness and speed of play, who can help on the attack while also being a stout defender. With the addition of these five freshmen, the Wildcats will look to be a deeper team this season.

WILDCATS WIN OPENER
The Wildcats hosted Bloomfield in its season opener yesterday. The game ended in a 5-2 win for Daemen with five goals from five different players: Katja Meyer, Sam Hanes, Grace Stranahan, Jamie Boyar and Celia de Pablo Esteban. Head coach Dan Dolan was able to rotate the squad and allow multiple players to show their hands in the game.
 
GOLDEY-BEACOM SCOUTING REPORT
Goldey-Beacom is a member of Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, and the Lightning are coached by Dan Frick who enters his third season at the helm. The Lightning lost 10 players from last season, but among those returning was the team leader in goals (13) and points (30) from last season, Alanna Speaks. Speaks was picked as the CACC Rookie of the Year last season, second team all-region and to the CACC All-Tournament Team. The Lightning are also bringing back senior Cliona Crammond, who led the team in assists (6) and was second in points (22). The Lightning went 12-5-2 overall last season and 8-3-1 in the CACC, but the team was picked to finish sixth in the CACC preseason poll. The Lightning have notched double digit win seasons two years in a row while also hosting a conference tournament game in back-to-back seasons. Goldey-Beacom played fellow ECC member St. Thomas Aquinas in the first game of the season on Thursday. The Lightning were able to put up four goals in a shutout win at home.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Daemen vs. Goldey-Beacom: 1-0
Streak: Win 1
Last Meeting: Daemen 2, Goldey-Beacom 1 | Sept. 26, 2017 | Amherst, N.Y.

WILMINGTON SCOUTING REPORT
Wilmington is a member of Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, and the Wildcats are coached by Jeff Zoyack who enters his third season as the head coach at Wilmington. The Wildcats lost 13 players from last season, one of those players being Loran Wyrough who was voted to the Division II United Soccer Coaches All-East Region Women's Soccer Team, USC All-East Region Third Team and D2CCA All-East Region First team. Wyrough led the CACC ion goals last year with 17 and reconds second in program history with 53 goals. The Wildcats do return its midfield from last season in sophomore Krysta Memis and redshirt sohphomore Jessica Unsihuay. Goalkeeper Kate Tubo returns after starting only one game in goal and appearing in five. The senior will look to add her veteran experience to the team's defense. The Wildcats went 14-6-1 overall last season and 10-2 in the CACC. Despite losing a good chunk of the team, the Wildcats were picked to finish second in the CACC preseason poll. Wilmington opens their season today against Adelphia at 4 p.m.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
Daemen vs. Wilmington: 0-0
Streak: N/A
Last Meeting: N/A

UP NEXT
Daemen opens up ECC play at home against St. Thomas Aquinas on Saturday, Sept. 8 at 11 AM.