wsoc 2020 recruiting class

Women's Soccer Formally Introduces 2020 Recruiting Class

AMHERST, N.Y. - Dan Dolan, the veteran head women's soccer coach at Daemen College, formally introduced his program's 2020 recruiting class today, bringing 10 newcomers into the fold following a magical 2019 season. 

The newcomers include nine freshmen - forward Brooke Amato, defender Izzy Andzel, forward/midfielder Gretchen Beyer, midfielder Ava Bruehwiler, midfielder Lauren Cuisia, midfielder Julia Downey, midfielder/defender Emily Mogavero, defender Lindsey Rieger and midfielder Madita Zeitz - as well as University at Buffalo transfer Tatyjana Scalisi who joined the program prior to the Spring 2020 semester. Eight of the 10 are New York State natives, including six from the immediate Western New York area. Cuisia (Canada) and Zeitz (Germany) will both be coming in from foreign countries. 

They'll be joining a program that has experienced an elevated trajectory over the last several seasons, posting a 28-19-5 record since 2017. The Wildcats are coming off an 11-4-3 season in 2019, setting a new benchmark for wins in the program's NCAA Division II era while also making their first NCAA tournament appearance. While 19 players are set to return, including core defensive player Sam D'Agostino (Mississauga, Ont.), goalkeeper Maddie Flores (Seattle, Wash.) and midfielder Grace Stranahan (Grand Island, N.Y.), the Wildcats will be tasked with replacing all-conference midfielder Lindsay Ciaramella (St. George, Ont.) and standout forward Jamie Boyar (Williamsville, N.Y.), the program's all-time leader in goals. 

Read on for capsules of each incoming student-athlete. 

Our 2020 class is made up of a great group of ladies who fit our culture and expectations. We have many quality soccer players and even better people coming onto this roster. Each player has a great shot at earning playing time right away and I'm excited to see what they can all do to make us better.
Head Coach Dan Dolan

BROOKE AMATO

FORWARD

GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. / GRAND ISLAND HIGH SCHOOL

  • Three-year varsity player for the perennial WNY powerhouse Grand Island Vikings
  • Three-time All-Niagara Frontier League selection
  • Also a two-time Second Team All-WNY selection, and was named Niagara Gazette Player of the Year
  • Competed in club soccer for Global Premier Buffalo
  • Will major in early childhood/special education
  • Coach Dolan Quote: “Brooke brings speed and a determined work ethic for us at the forward position. Her nose for the goal will help us right away."

IZZY ANDZEL

DEFENDER

CLARENCE, N.Y / CLARENCE HIGH SCHOOL

  • Three-year varsity player for the Clarence Red Devils
  • Led team to league, sectional and Far West Regional championships in each season, advancing to the state final four each year
  • Two-time Second Team All-ECIC selection
  • Three-time Defensive MVP of the Red Devils
  • Competed in club soccer for Global Premier Buffalo
  • Will major in education
  • Coach Dolan Quote: “Izzy really fits our style of play as a defender. She bring a certain tenacity and aggressiveness as well as the ability to join the play in the attacking third."

GRETCHEN BEYER

FORWARD/MIDFIELDER

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. / WILLIAMSVILLE EAST HIGH SCHOOL

  • Four-year varsity player for the Williamsville East Flames
  • Scored the game-winning goal in the Flames' Section VI Class A-1 championship in 2018
  • Recipient of the Air Force Scholar Athlete Award
  • Played club soccer for Global Premier Buffalo
  • Will major in physician assistant studies
  • Coach Dolan Quote: “Gretchen's best attributes are her vision, link up play and attacking ability. She will be an attacking midfielder or a forward for us."

AVA BRUEHWILER

MIDFIELDER

SPENCER, N.Y. / SPENCER-VAN ETTEN HIGH SCHOOL

  • Four-year varsity player for the combined Spencer-Van Etten-Candor Eagles
  • Scored 48 goals in her scholastic career and helped the Eagles to two division titles and four sectional appearances
  • Scored a career-high 16 goals as a junior
  • Four-time First Team All-Conference honoree and two-time team captain
  • Also competed for the Soaring Capitals Soccer Club
  • Will major in physical therapy
  • Coach Dolan Quote: “Ava's athleticism and work ethic will help contribute to our team. I believe she's a player who will improve quickly and her versatility gives her the ability to contribute in many positions on the field."

LAUREN CUISIA

MIDFIELDER

MISSISSAUGA, ONT. / LOYOLA CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL

  • Earned team MVP honors while competing for the Loyola Warriors
  • Member of teams that won the ROPSSAA junior soccer championship in 2016-17 and advanced to the ROPSSAA senior soccer quarterfinals in 2018-19
  • Becomes the second Mississauga native on the Daemen roster, joining senior defender Sam D'Agostino
  • Played club soccer for the Toronto Blizzard
  • Will major in physical therapy
  • Coach Dolan Quote: “Lauren is a very talented, quick and skilled player. She should make an immediate impact for us in the midfield."

JULIA DOWNEY

MIDFIELDER

HAMBURG, N.Y. / FRONTIER HIGH SCHOOL

  • Four-year varsity player for the Frontier Falcons
  • Led the team to the sectional semifinals during her junior and senior seasons
  • Earned honorable mention All-WNY honors as a senior after ranking third in ECIC I for points with 31
  • Totaled 73 points over her final three scholastic seasons
  • Two-time All-ECIC selection
  • Played club soccer for the Hamburg Monarchs
  • Will major in biochemistry
  • Coach Dolan Quote: “Julia will help us in the attacking third. Her mobility, vision and awareness will be her greatest assets at the college level."

EMILY MOGAVERO

MIDFIELDER/DEFENDER

BUFFALO, N.Y. / OLMSTED HIGH SCHOOL

  • Four-year varsity player for the Olmsted Owls
  • Team captain and MVP
  • The Buffalo News Prep Talk Athlete of the Week recipient
  • Led the Owls to the Buffalo Public Schools championship as a sophomore
  • Competed in club soccer for Empire United
  • Will major in physician assistant studies
  • Coach Dolan Quote: “Emily brings great leadership, communication and versatility to our team. We expect her to play in the back, but she also possesses the necessary skill set to play in the midfield for us."

LINDSEY RIEGER

DEFENDER

WEBSTER, N.Y. / WEBSTER SCHROEDER HIGH SCHOOL

  • Three-year varsity player for the Webster Schroeder Warriors
  • Led the Warriors to sectional championships in 2018 and 2019
  • Two-time All-Monroe County selection
  • Played club soccer for Empire United
  • Will major in physical therapy
  • Coach Dolan Quote: “Lindsey is an outside back who has improved greatly over the last few years since I first saw her. She's played club at a high level and we expect her vision, awareness, passing and defensive responsibilities to shine."

TATYJANA SCALISI

FORWARD

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. / WILLIAMSVILLE SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL / UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO

  • Will have three remaining seasons of eligibility after beginning her career at the University at Buffalo
  • Appeared in 10 of UB's 20 games in 2019, finishing with one goal, one assist and three points
  • Was a three-year varsity player for the Williamsville South Billies
  • Netted 26 goals and added nine assists during her senior season en route to First Team All-WNY and All-State accolades
  • Also named the Amherst Bee Co-Player of the Year
  • Played club soccer for Empire United and WNY ODP
  • Will major in English
  • Coach Dolan Quote: “Taty is a fantastically talented and very technical offensive player who will bring great goal-scoring ability to our team. Her personality on and off the field will be a great asset to our team."

MADITA ZEITZ

MIDFIELDER

MALSCH, GERMANY / LUDWIG-WILHELM-GYMNASIUM

  • Will become the first German player in program history
  • Competed for SC Sand
  • Three-time State Cup winner
  • Team captain
  • Helped team to promotion to the U-17 Bundesliga
  • Will major in business administration with a specialization in marketing
  • Coach Dolan Quote: “Madita is a very talented midfielder whose skill set will help us right away. Her ability to get forward and create chances on the attack will help our scoring output game in and game out.”

Read More