GAME INFORMATION & LINKS
Game #9
Daemen Wildcats (0-8-0, 0-2-0 ECC) vs. Bridgeport Purple Knights (4-4-0, 1-1-0 ECC)
Saturday, Oct. 5 | 1:30 p.m.
Amherst, N.Y. | Karrer Field
Live Stats

FREE KICK
Daemen closes out a three-game home stand by hosting the University of Bridgeport in an East Coast Conference game Saturday (Oct. 5). The Wildcats suffered a 3-1 setback to nationally-ranked Mercy College last Saturday and are coming off a 3-1 non-league loss to Salem University on Thursday. The Purple Knights lost three of their first four games, but have rebounded with wins in three of their last four games—including a 3-1 non-league win over Dominican this past Monday. UB won 10 games last year and was picked fifth in the ECC preseason poll.

BELIEVE IN BEDI
The 2019 season marks a new era for the Wildcats as head coach Bediako Swan takes the reins. Swan was introduced last February as the sixth head coach in the modern era of the Daemen men's soccer program, coming over after assistant coaching gigs at Division I St. Francis (Pa.) and Division II Davis & Elkins. Last fall in his only season with the Red Flash, Swan contributed to St. Francis' 9-5-3 campaign. In four seasons at D&E, he helped the Senators average 10 wins per season. A native of Grenada, Swan is a 2012 graduate of D&E where he enjoyed a successful playing career that included two all-conference and one all-region selection.

HOME COOKING
Saturday's game will mark the last of three-straight home games for Daemen. The Wildcats posted a 4-3-0 record at home last season, their first season with a better than .500 winning percentage at home since going 3-0-0 in 2000.

BUILDING BLOCKS
The Wildcats return 11 players from last year's team that finished 5-12-0 overall and 3-6-0 in the ECC. Five of the returning 11 hold two years of collegiate playing experience. Those five players - goalkeeper Jarrett Lecceadone, midfielder Anthony Cupello, forwards Derek Mancuso, Craig Buchanan and Nate Sorgi - have each played a role in helping Daemen to 12 wins over the last two seasons, marking the program's most successful two-year span since winning 14 games from 2005-06. Lecceadone saw action in nine games and made five starts as a freshman, but was limited by injuries to just two appearances in 2018. He and sophomore Eithan Hahn have shared the goaltending duties thus far in 2019. Cupello was named the team's MVP despite missing the final five games of the 2018 season with an injury. In 30 career games, Cupello has posted 17 points (3 gls, 11 asts). Buchanan has appeared in 37 games over the last three seasons, totaling three goals and two assists.

LUNDIN BRIDGE
Sophomore defender Pontus Lundin has netted two of Daemen's six goals so far this season, with both coming by way of penalty kick. His goal in the 64th minute vs. Malone on Sept. 5 evened the score at 1-1, and marked the first tally of his collegiate career. Two days later against Walsh, his goal at the 51:00 mark broke a scoreless tie, and held up as the game's only scoring until Walsh netted the equalizer with less than four minutes remaining in regulation.

A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
Several players have recorded their first career point in recent games. Junior Derek Mancuso (Friendship, N.Y.) and redshirt sophomore Ben Christidis (Fairport, N.Y.) both registered their first career point during the loss to regionally-ranked Le Moyne on Sept. 17. Mancuso netted his first career goal, while Christidis assisted on the goal for his first career point. Freshmen Alex Christidis (Fairport, N.Y.) and Eman Wajed (Buffalo, N.Y.) also registered their first career points during the loss to Cal U on Sept. 25. Christidis netted his first career goal early in the second half. Wajed assisted on the goal for his first career point. Freshman Chris Cox (Buffalo, N.Y.) scored his first goal in the loss to nationally-ranked Mercy. His goal with 9:55 left before halftime gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.

RIDERS ON THE STORM
Daemen's game at Gannon on Sept. 11 was suspended and later fully postponed due to a thunderstorm moving through the Erie, Pa. area. Because the game had not yet reached the 70 minute mark, it was essentially declared a no contest. The teams have re-scheduled the game for Monday, Oct. 7 at McConnell Family Stadium. The game will re-start from the beginning with a 0-0 score.

BRIDGEPORT SCOUTING REPORT
Bridgeport is led by head coach Peter Doneit, who took over as head coach in prior to the 2016 season after serving as an assistant coach with the Purple Knights for 15 years. After posting just seven wins over Doneit's first two seasons as head coach, the Purple Knights turned in a solid campaign last fall—posting a 10-4-1 overall record and a 5-3-1 mark in the ECC. The Purple Knights return all eight of their top scorers from last year's team, led by senior striker Leandro Avila and senior midfielder Nikolai Vadseth.  Avila earned third team All-ECC honors in his debut season last year after totaling 20 points (8 gls, 4 asts). Vadseth also scored eight goals last season and finished with 19 points. The Purple Knights have won three of their last four games and are coming off a 3-1 non-league win over Dominican this past Monday. Vadseth scored twice in the win over Dominican and has totaled a team-high six points, while Avila has racked up two goals and five points. Sophomore Carlos Tofern (1.00 GAA) started the first six games in goal and made a season-high six saves in a 2-0 win over St. Thomas Aquinas. Freshman Felipe Dias (1.00 GAA) has started the last two games and made five saves in a 1-0 loss to District of Columbia.

ALL-TIME SERIES: DAEMEN VS. BRIDGEPORT
Series Record: 0-6
Streak: L 6
Last Meeting: Bridgeport 3, Daemen 1 | Oct. 6, 2018 | at Bridgeport, Conn.

ON THE HORIZON
Daemen returns to action Monday (Oct. 7) when it travels to Erie, Pa. for a non-conference game at Gannon University.