GAME INFORMATION & LINKS
Game #16
Daemen Wildcats (0-15-0, 0-6-0 ECC) vs. District of Columbia Firebirds (6-10-0, 3-3-0 ECC)
Saturday, Nov. 2 | 1:30 p.m.
Williamsville, N.Y. | Williamsville South HS Stadium
Live Streaming Video (via ECC Network)
Live Stats

FREE KICK
Daemen hosts the University of the District of Columbia in an East Coast Conference match Saturday (Nov. 2). It will mark the final home game of the year for the Wildcats. UDC has prevailed in the last five meetings between the two teams, including a 4-3 win last year in Washington, D.C. The Firebirds have won two straight games and remain in contention for a conference tournament berth. Daemen is coming off a 4-2 loss to Bloomsburg in non-conference action earlier this week. 

VENUE CHANGE
Due to unplayable conditions at Karrer Field, Saturday's game has been moved to the stadium at Williamsville South High School, located at 5950 Main Street, just three miles from Daemen's campus. 

SENIOR SALUTE
Saturday's game marks the final home contest for Craig Buchanan. He will be honored in a pre-game ceremony.

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.

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 in 2019. Cupello was named the team's MVP despite missing the final five games of the 2018 season with an injury. In 31 career games, Cupello has posted 17 points (3 gls, 11 asts). Buchanan has appeared in 44 games over the last three seasons, totaling four goals and two assists.

LUNDIN BRIDGE
Sophomore defender Pontus Lundin has netted three of Daemen's 11 goals this season, with all three 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.

A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
Several players have recorded their first career point this season. 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 on Sept. 28. His goal with 9:55 left before halftime gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. Sophomore Mateo Astudillo (Rochester, N.Y.) netted his first career goal during loss to Bridgeport on Oct. 5, while freshman Christian Lewin (Bobenheim-Roxhelm, Germany) scored his first career goal in the loss to Roberts Wesleyan last weekend. Freshman Derek Bartlo (Williamsville, N.Y.) scored his first career goal during a 4-2 loss to Bloomsburg this past Tuesday.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SCOUTING REPORT
UDC is led by head coach Matthew L. Thompson, who is in his ninth season with the Firebirds. UDC posted an 6-10-1 overall record and a 4-5-0 mark in the ECC last year. The Firebirds were picked sixth in the ECC preseason poll. UDC snapped a three-game losing streak following a 3-2 win over New York Tech last weekend and is coming off a 4-0 non-conference win over Washington Adventist on Wednesday. Newcomer Victor Gomes and senior Malik Thom have paced an offense that has netted 24 goals in 16 games. Gomes scored twice in the win over New York and netted his first career hat trick against Washington Adventist. He ranks second among the ECC leaders in both goals (11) and points (24). Thom scored twice in a 4-2 win over Bloomsburg last month and has totaled 19 points (7 gls, 5 asts). Freshman Javier Abadia (2.16 GAA) has started 12 games in net and made seven saves in a recent 2-1 win over Roberts Wesleyan.

ALL-TIME SERIES: DAEMEN VS. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Series Record: 0-5-1
Streak: L 5
Last Meeting: UDC 4, Daemen 3 | Oct. 17, 2018 | Washington, D.C.

ON THE HORIZON
Daemen is idle until next Saturday (Nov. 9)  closes out the 2019 season with an ECC game at St. Thomas Aquinas College.