Men's Soccer 2019 Season Review

4/20/2020 12:00:00 PM

Despite a difficult season, the togetherness of the Daemen men's soccer team was lauded by head coach Bediako Swan

QUICK HITS

The Wildcats fielded a young roster in 2019 with 19 first- or second-year players on their 25-man roster; five newcomers to the team would go on to start at least 12 contests.
The 2019 season was the Wildcats first under head coach Bediako Swan who was named to the position in February.
Sophomore Pontus Lundin led the team in goals and points
Goalkeepers Jarrett Lecceadone and Eithan Hahn split time between the pipes, combining to make 124 saves.
Newcomers Derek Bartlo and Ben Christidis patrolled the midfield, while newcomers Trey Buscaglia and David Ramjee were fixtures in the defensive third.
The injury bug hit hard as 2018 team MVP Anthony Cupello missed the entire season; others missed time as well including transfer Tron De Freitas and freshman Hilario Munoz.
The Wildcats finished 0-17-0 overall and 0-8-0 in East Coast Conference play.

SCHEDULE / RESULTS

ROSTER

STATISTICS

ECC STANDINGS

BEDIAKO SWAN // HEAD MEN'S SOCCER COACH

Bediako Swan was named the sixth head coach in the modern history (2000-present) of the Daemen men's soccer program on February 26, 2019.
A former Division II student-athlete himself, Swan came to Daemen following five years of assistant coaching service, including a one-year stint at Division I St. Francis (Pa.); prior to that, Swan assisted for four seasons at his alma mater, Davis & Elkins.

Head Coach Bediako Swan

Sophomore defender Pontus Lundin scored a team-high three goals in his second season with the Wildcats.

AMHERST, N.Y. - The Daemen College men's soccer team opened its 2019 season with a 2-1 loss to Malone University here today in a non-conference match. It was also the 2019 season-opener for Malone. The game also marked the debut of Bediako Swan, who became the sixth head coach in the history of the Daemen men's soccer program this past February. FULL RECAP

AMHERST, N.Y. - The Daemen College men's soccer team couldn't make an early second half goal stand up as visiting Walsh University scored goals late in regulation and the first overtime period to escape Karrer Field with a 2-1 win in non-conference play today. With the loss, Daemen drops to 0-2 on the season. Walsh, a member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, improves to 2-0 while taking a dramatic sweep of their tour through Western New York. The Cavaliers defeated Roberts Wesleyan College in a 3-2 double-overtime decision in Rochester earlier this week. FULL RECAP

FINDLAY, Ohio - The Daemen College men's soccer team fell to 0-3 this season following a 5-0 road loss today to the University of Findlay in a non-conference game at DeHaven Field. The Oilers, who were coming off a win over No. 7 Ohio Valley University, netted four first-half goals and never looked back. FULL RECAP
AMHERST, N.Y. - The Daemen College men's soccer team suffered a 7-1 loss to regionally-ranked Le Moyne College here today in a non-conference match. Daemen dropped to 0-4-0 on the year, while the visiting Dolphins remained unbeaten at 4-0-0. Le Moyne, which has advanced to the NCAA Division II Championship Tournament three of the last four years, took control with three unanswered goals in the span of 4:53 midway through the first half. FULL RECAP

Junior forward Derek Mancuso netted the first goal of his career on Sept. 17 vs. Le Moyne.

OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. - The Daemen College men's soccer team opened East Coast Conference play here today with a 3-0 loss to New York Tech. Daemen dropped to 0-5-0 overall. It also marked the league opener for the Bears, who improved to 2-4-0 overall following their second-straight win. New York Tech, which was picked third in the ECC preseason poll, scored twice in the span of a minute midway through the first half and took a 3-0 lead into halftime. FULL RECAP
AMHERST, N.Y. - Nationally-ranked Mercy College escaped with a 3-1 victory over Daemen College here today in East Coast Conference men's soccer action. Mercy remained unbeaten on the year (7-0-1) and improved to 2-0-0 in the ECC, while Daemen dropped to 0-7-0 overall and 0-2-0 in the league. Daemen held a 1-0 lead at halftime and the game was tied 1-1 until Mercy struck for two goals in the span of seven minutes with less than 20 minutes to play in regulation time. Mercy was picked first in the ECC preseason poll and is currently ranked ninth nationally and second in the East Region by the United Soccer Coaches. FULL RECAP

The first goal of Chris Cox's career initiated a raucous celebration and sent the Wildcats into halftime leading nationally-ranked Mercy 1-0

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. - Salem University scored twice in the final 26 minutes of action to earn a 3-1 victory over Daemen College here today in men's soccer action. Salem, a NCAA Division II independent, improved to 3-5-1 with the win. Daemen dropped to 0-8-0 overall. FULL RECAP

Trinidad & Tobago native Tron De Freitas made his season debut Oct. 3 against Salem after missing the first seven games of the season while recovering from an injury

AMHERST, N.Y. - Seniors Eriend Skagestad and Leandro Avila both netted two goals to lead the University of Bridgeport to a 7-1 victory over Daemen College here today in East Coast Conference men's soccer action. The visiting Purple Knights improved to 5-4-0 overall and 2-1-0 in the ECC, while Daemen dropped to 0-9-0 overall and 0-3-0 in the league. FULL RECAP

Sophomore Mateo Astudillo netted the first goal of his career vs. Bridgeport on Oct. 5.

ERIE, Pa. - Senior Ben Andrews netted two goals and junior Alex Lee Yaw added a goal and an assist to lead nationally-ranked Gannon University to a 7-1 victory over Daemen College here tonight in a non-conference men's soccer match. Gannon, which was ranked first in the Atlantic Region and fourth nationally among NCAA Division II schools by the United Soccer Coaches last week, improved to 7-1-0 overall. Daemen dropped to 0-10-0 overall. FULL RECAP

Junior goalkeeper Jarrett Lecceadone made a career-high 10 saves against nationally-ranked Gannon.

FLUSHING, N.Y. - Queens College got goals from three different players en route to a 3-0 victory over Daemen College here today in East Coast Conference men's soccer action. Queens improved to 4-4-1 overall and 1-2-0 in the ECC, while Daemen dropped to 0-11-0 overall and 0-4-0 in the league. FULL RECAP
ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. - Senior Angelo Bordenca scored two goals to lead Molloy College to a 4-0 victory over Daemen College here today in East Coast Conference men's soccer action. Molloy picked up its third-straight victory and improved to 6-4-1 overall and 3-2-0 in the ECC. Daemen dropped to 0-12-0 overall and 0-5-0 in the league. FULL RECAP

PHILIPPI, W. Va. - Two goals late in the first half lifted Alderson Broaddus University to a 2-0 victory over Daemen College here today in non-league men's soccer action. Daemen dropped to 0-13-0 with the loss. ABU, a member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, improved to 6-7-1 on the year. FULL RECAP
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Sophomore Dylan Ruiz scored three goals to lift Roberts Wesleyan College to a 5-1 victory over Daemen College here tonight in East Coast Conference men's soccer action. Daemen dropped to 0-14-0 overall and 0-6-0 in the ECC. Roberts Wesleyan ran its winning streak to three-straight games and improved to 8-5-1 overall and 5-1-0 in the league. FULL RECAP
AMHERST, N.Y. - Freshman Foti Malitas scored two goals to lead Bloomsburg University to a 4-2 victory over Daemen College here today in non-conference men's soccer action. Daemen dropped to 0-15-0 on the year. Bloomsburg, a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) improved to 7-9-0. FULL RECAP

Freshman midfielder Derek Bartlo was a fixture in the Wildcats lineup, finishing with a pair of goals including the first of his career Oct. 29 vs. Bloomsburg

Daemen's Senior Day ceremony was held on November 2, honoring the young team's lone graduating player, forward/midfielder Craig Buchanan who netted four goals and totaled 10 points in his three seasons with the team

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. - Freshman midfielder Thomas Cecil scored two goals to lead the University of the District of Columbia to a 3-0 victory over Daemen College here today in East Coast Conference men's soccer action. Daemen dropped to 0-16-0 overall and 0-7-0 in the ECC. UDC ran its winning streak to three-straight games and improved to 7-10-0 overall and 4-3-0 in the league.The game was played at Williamsville South High School Stadium due to unplayable field conditions at Karrer Field—Daemen's usual home field. FULL RECAP

SPARKILL, N.Y. - Freshman forward Jorge Mazariego scored two goals to lead St. Thomas Aquinas College to a 6-1 victory over Daemen College here today in East Coast Conference men's soccer action. It marked the 2019 season finale for both teams. Daemen finished 0-17-0 overall and 0-8-0 in the ECC, while STAC closes at 4-11-1 overall and 3-5-0 in the league. FULL RECAP

Freshman defender Trey Buscaglia logged a team-high 1,367 minutes on the pitch in 2019

Hear from @DaemenMSOC head coach Bediako Swan in the latest Daemen at Distance feature as he discusses the process behind his first season at the helm & the impacts of COVID-19 on their goals & objectives.

FULL VIDEO: https://t.co/tVbUJSFeAg pic.twitter.com/zG0ENnHwFv
— Daemen Wildcats (@DaemenAthletics) April 17, 2020

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