GAME INFORMATION
Game #6
Daemen Wildcats (2-3, 0-1 ECC) vs. Molloy Lions (0-2-1, 1-1 MEC)
Saturday, Sept. 15 | 11:00 a.m.
Amherst, N.Y. | Karrer Field

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FREE KICK
Daemen looks to carry the momentum from a dominating 2-0 win over Shepherd earlier this week into their East Coast Conference clash with visiting Molloy on Saturday morning. The Wildcats will attempt to snap a three-game ECC slide that dates back to the end of the 2017 season, and they'll do so with the highest scoring offense in the league this season, entering Saturday's contest with a 2.20 goals per game average. 

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 this season with White getting the start on Wednesday against Shepherd.

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 SNAP THREE-GAME SKID
The Wildcats hosted Shepherd University on Wednesday in between ECC games. Daemen came away with a 2-0 snapping its three-game losing streak. Daemen is now 3-0 against Shepherd. Jamie Boyar scored her conference leading fourth goal of the season and Sarah Kenny scored her first career goal at Daemen in the win.
 
MOLLOY SCOUTING REPORT
Molloy is a fellow member of the East Coast Conference, and the Lions are coached by Steve Price in his second year. Price served as an assistant for Molloy prior to being head coach. The Lions lost 9 players from last season with most of them being seniors including its second point getter in 2017, Katlyn Merino. Dana Poetzsch is returning from her freshman campaign tallying 16 goals and 34 points while also being named ECC Rookie of the Year, First Team All-ECC and ECC Preseason Offensive Play of the Year for 2018. The last time Poetzsch played Daemen in 2017 she recorded her second hat-trick of the 2017 season. She has yet to record a goal this year with one assist. Sophomore goalkeeper Jackie Carty and graduate Felicia LaPera were both named to Second Team All-ECC in 2017. The Lions went 8-8-2 overall last season, 5-3 in the ECC and finished third in the ECC. Molloy was picked to finish fourth in the ECC poll, receiving 63 points out of the 10 teams. The Lions have started off the season 0-2-1 losing in double overtime to Bentley University and having a game cancelled in the 77th minute against Stonehill College due to lightning.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Daemen vs. Molloy: 1-4
Streak: Lost 2
Last Meeting: Molloy 3, Daemen 0 | Oct. 28, 2017 | Rockville Centre, N.Y.

UP NEXT
Daemen starts a two-game road trip by traveling to Mercyhurst on Tuesday September, 18 with the game starting at 4 p.m.