GAME INFORMATION
Game #5
Daemen Wildcats (1-3, 0-1 ECC) vs. Shepherd University Rams (1-3, 1-1 MEC)
Wednesday, Sept. 12 | 12:00 p.m.
Amherst, N.Y. | Karrer Field

GAME LINKS
Live Stats

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. White and Flores have continued to share time with both starting two games this season.

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.

ECC OPENER
The Wildcats hosted St. Thomas Aquinas in the ECC opener on Saturday losing 2-1 with the first loss against the Spartans since 2012. Jamie Boyar scored her third goal of the season. Boyar is tied for first in the ECC in goals with LIU Post's junior forward Julia Duffy.
 
SHEPHERD SCOUTING REPORT
Shepherd University is a member of Mountain East Conference, and the Rams are coached by first year head coach Emily Hester. Hester previously was an assistant at Southern Utah University for two seasons. The Rams lost 11 players from last season with six of them being seniors including its top two point leaders in forward Samantha Leonard and senior Brianna Gorman. Third on the team in points and goals in 2017 was freshman midfielder Katherine Eddy, who is returning for her sophomore season and leading the Rams in both categories. Eddy was elected to the All-MEC Freshmen Team in 2017 as well. The Rams went 5-7-7 overall last season and 5-4-7 in the MEC. Shepherd was picked to finish fourth in the MEC South poll, gaining the seventh most points overall out of the 10 teams. The Rams have started off the season 1-3 beating Glenville State 4-0 and losing to Concord 4-0 in conference matchups. The Wildcats have a two-game winning streak on the Rams having never lost to them with a 2-0 record.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Daemen vs. Shepherd: 2-0
Streak: Win 2
Last Meeting: Daemen 1, Shepherd 0 | Oct. 30, 2017 | Shepherdstown, WV

UP NEXT
Daemen resumes ECC play when they host Molloy on Saturday, Sept. 15 at 11 a.m.