Men's Soccer Meets Findlay For First Time Saturday

9/13/2019 9:30:00 AM

GAME INFORMATION & LINKS
Game #3
Daemen Wildcats (0-2, 0-0 ECC) vs. Findlay Oilers (2-0, 1-0 GMAC)
Saturday, Sept. 14 | 1 p.m.
Findlay, Ohio | DeHaven Field
Live Streaming Video
Live Stats

FREE KICK
Daemen looks for its first win of the season this Saturday when they play a road contest against Great Midwest Athletic Conference member Findlay. The Wildcats have suffered a pair of one-goal defeats to start the season, falling by identical 2-1 scores last week to Malone and Walsh. The loss to Walsh was especially gut-wrenching as the Wildcats led for much of the second half, until Walsh scored with less four minutes remaining in regulation, and again just 20 seconds before the first overtime period was set to expire. Findlay has an unblemished record (2-0) so far which includes an upset victory over No. 7 Ohio Valley earlier this week.

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
Daemen opened up at home for the third time in the last four seasons. It marks just the fourth time in the 20-year history of the program that the Wildcats play two straight home games to start a season (previously 2003, 2010, 2016). Daemen posted a 4-3-0 record at home last season, their first season with better than a .500 winning percentage since going 3-0-0 in 2000.

BUILDING BLOCKS
The Wildcats return 11 players to their roster, five of whom 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 are likely to each see time between the pipes early this season. 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 also appeared in 30 games over the last two seasons, totaling three goals and two assists.

LUNDIN BRIDGE
Sophomore defender Pontus Lundin has netted both of Daemen's 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.

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.

FINDLAY SCOUTING REPORT
Findlay is a member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, and the Oilers are led by veteran head coach Andy Smyth who is in the midst of his 31st season in that role. Over his three-decade tenure, Smyth has led the Oilers to a 228-267-39 record, and a run to the Division II national semifinals in 2003. Findlay is coming off 5-11-1 campaign in 2018, and their 39-man roster includes 23 returners. Five of the team's returners started at least 10 games last season, and the group is headlined by senior midfielder Josh Dickinson and junior midfielder Jack Atkinson. Dickinson led the team in goals (5), assists (5) and points (15) last season, while Atkinson was an honorable mention All-GMAC selection. The Oilers were picked eighth in the GMAC preseason poll, but have already pulled off a upset of highly touted GMAC foe Ohio Valley. After knocking off Shepherd 1-0 in their season opener, the Oilers shocked Ohio Valley 2-1 in double overtime. Dickinson scored in the 73rd minute to knot the score, and junior forward Alex Kerstetter netted the "golden goal" in the 101st minute. Ohio Valley entered the game ranked No. 7 in the United Soccer Coaches Division II national poll.

ALL-TIME SERIES: DAEMEN VS. FINDLAY
Series Record: 0-0

ON THE HORIZON
Daemen returns home to Karrer Field where they'll host Le Moyne for a regional contest on Tuesday, Sept. 17.

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