Game #11
Daemen Wildcats (3-7-0, 1-4-0 ECC) vs Bridgeport Purple Knights (3-6-2, 3-2-0 ECC)
DATE: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16
TIME: 12 p.m.
LOCATION: Bridgeport, Conn. / Knights Field
LIVE STREAM: Via ECC Sports Network
LIVE STATS: Via Bridgeport Athletics
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
1. BACK IN ACTION
Daemen continues their 2021 campaign when they visit the Bridgeport Purple Knights in an East Coast Conference matchup at 12 p.m. Saturday at Knights Field in Bridgeport, Conn. This will be eighth all-time meeting between the programs and the first since Bridgeport's 7-1 road victory in Amherst, N.Y. on Oct. 5, 2019. Bridgeport leads the all-time series, 7-0-0. This will be Daemen's first contest since a 5-0 victory over Chestnut Hill this past Wednesday (Oct. 13) to end a five-game losing skid. In the 24th minute, junior forward
Colin Archibald (North Tonawanda, N.Y.) scored off a rebound opportunity in front of the net to give Daemen a 1-0 lead off an assist from senior midfielder
Arthur Djengue Bille (Paris France). This marked the first time Daemen scored in a contest since junior
Pontus Lundin (Asmundtorp, Sweden) converted a penalty kick in a 4-1 loss versus Mercyhurst on Sept. 22 (four total games.) Sophomore defenseman Michel Holscher (Hamminkeln, Germany) scored his first goal of the season a few minutes later off another assist from Djengue Bille, extending Daemen's lead to 2-0 at the half. Then, in the 73rd minute, Lundin gave Daemen a 3-0 lead when he converted a penalty kick for the fifth time in his career. Then, roughly two minutes later, junior forward
Christian Lewin (Bobenheim-Roxheim, Germany) received a pass from sophomore forward
Dennis Montero Guerrero (Weingarten, Germany) for his team-leading third goal of the season to give Daemen a 4-0 lead over the Griffins. Just 20 seconds later, in the 76th minute, junior
Derek Bartlo (Williamsville, N.Y.) scored the team's fifth and final goal of the afternoon. Senior goalkeeper
Marcos Lerma Escobar (Zaragoza, Spain) recorded a one-save performance in what was his first shutout of his Daemen career. The Wildcats recorded 11 of their 19 total shots on net in the victory. The five-goal performance marked Daemen's best offensive game since a 6-1 win over Pitt-Johnstown during the 2017 season and the third time the Wildcats scored at least five goals in a contest in the program's NCAA Division II era (2015-present.) Daemen also improves to 3-0 on the season when scoring at least two goals. Wednesday was the first shutout win for Daemen since a 2-0 edging over D'Youville on April 30, 2021, which concluded their unorthodox 2020 season.
2. LOOKING TO SCORE
After being held scoreless in each of their last four contests as part of a five-game winless streak, the Wildcats found some scoring opportunities in a 5-0 victory over Chestnut Hill in non-conference play on Oct. 13. Daemen had entered this contest being outscored by their opponents, 13-1, dating back to their ECC-opening victory against D'Youville on Sept. 18 Through the first 10 contests, Daemen has scored 13 goals from eight different players while 13 different players have recorded at least one point (team total of 35.) Junior
Christian Lewin (Bobenheim-Roxheim, Germany) recorded his team-high third goal of the season in the recent victory over the Griffins. Classmates
Derek Bartlo (Williamsville, N.Y.)
Trey Buscaglia (Amherst, N.Y.), and
Pontus Lundin (Asmundtorp, Sweden) have all scored two goals apiece.
Colin Archibald (North Tonawanda, N.Y.),
Anthony Cupello (Rochester, N.Y.), Michel Holscher (Hamminkeln, Germany) and
Dennis Montero Guerrero (Weingarten, Germany) round out the scoring with one goal apiece. With his two-assist day against the Griffins, senior midfielder
Arthur Djengue Bille (Paris, France) is now tied with freshman
Vincent Ranieri (Spencerport, N.Y.) for the team lead in assists (2) and together contribute four of Daemen's nine assists this season.
3. RETURNING VETERANS
Expectations for Daemen men's soccer are high this fall as 26 players from their 2020-21 roster return, many of whom were key contributors for their 3-2-0 finish. Daemen had a balanced attack offensively as nine goals were scored by six different players – and all are returning this fall. Strikers
Dennis Montero Guerrero (Weingarten, Germany) and
Christian Lewin (Bobenheim-Roxheim, Germany) and defender/midfielder Michel Holscher (Hamminkeln, Germany) accounted for six of the team's nine goals. Midfielder
Anthony Cupello (Rochester, N.Y.) finished with a team-high three assists after missing the end of the 2018 season and all of the 2019 campaign while recovering from an injury. Rejoining the Daemen defensive unit is junior
Pontus Lundin (Asmundtorp, Sweden). The Swedish native made a combined 29 starts in 2018 and 2019, and led the team in goals (3) and points (6) during his sophomore campaign. Key veterans
Derek Mancuso (Friendship, N.Y.) and
Jarrett Lecceadone (Randolph, N.Y.) will both compete as graduate students this fall. Senior
Marcos Lerma Escobar (Zaragoza, Spain) joins Lecceadone as a returning goalkeeper. Lerma Escobar, who transferred from Medaille College in spring 2020, recorded his first victory with the blue-and-white when he recorded a career-high 12 saves in Daemen's 3-1 victory versus RWC on April 25.
4. CONFERENCE PLAY COMMENCES
For the first time in two years, all East Coast Conference members in men's soccer returned to conference play this fall. Daemen men's soccer has been picked to finish ninth in the East Coast Conference according to the league's preseason poll which was released on August 26. Daemen earned 24 total points following their abbreviated season. As of Oct. 14, Dist. Columbia has sole possession of first place (4-0-1) while St. Thomas Aquinas and Molloy are tied for second place (4-1-0.) Bridgeport currently sits in fourth at 3-2-0. Daemen is currently ninth in the ECC standings with a 1-4-0 record. The ECC Tournament will feature the top four teams in the final regular season standings with the No. 1 and 2 seeds hosting semifinal games on Wednesday, Nov. 10; the highest remaining seed hosts the tournament finals on Saturday, Nov. 13.
5. ON THE HORIZON
Daemen continues their 2021 campaign when they host the Gannon Knights of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in a nonconference matchup on Wednesday October 20 at 12 p.m. at Karrer Field in Amherst, N.Y. This is one of three home contests remaining for Daemen men's soccer this season.
BRIDGEPORT SCOUTING REPORT
Bridgeport is a member of the East Coast Conference. The Purple Knights saw their 2020 season canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Purple Knights enter Saturday's contest with a 3-6-2 overall record and 3-2-0 in ECC play. This will be Bridgeport's first game action since a 5-1 versus Franklin Pierce on Oct. 12, marking their third consecutive loss. Bridgeport is led by fifth-year head coach Peter Doneit. Prior to taking over the program in 2016, Doneit spent the past 15 seasons as an assistant under Brian Quinn and helped led the Purple Knights to the 2007 NCAA tournament and 13 East Coast Conference tournament appearances in the last 16 seasons. Doneit also has plenty of experience coaching soccer at various levels. Currently a coach in the US Soccer Development Academy system with Beachside Soccer Club, Doneit has led the 13/14, 15/16 and 17/18 teams and directed the 2016 team to the national playoffs in Frisco, Texas. In 2010, Doneit was named the US Youth Soccer Boys National Coach of the Year, the US Youth Soccer Region 1 Coach of the Year, and the NSCAA East Region Youth Coach of the Year. Over his 16 seasons at Beachside, Pete has led multiple teams to state and regional titles and championship game appearances and is also head coach of the Super 20 Team of the United Soccer League and has made seven national championship appearances. After a four-year career at Division I Hartwick College, Doneit then played professionally in South Africa and also spent time in the USISL and the Pro Select League in the United States. In their last full season back in 2019, the Purple Knights posted an 11-5-2 overall record and advanced to the East Coast Conference championship finals before falling to Mercy that November. The Purple Knights return 10 players from 2019 but graduated their top six scorers. After finishing seventh on the team with two goals in 2019, senior midfielder Jesse Clarke now leads the Purple Knights in goals scored (4) and total points (9.) Senior midfielder Hannes Nilsson, junior midfielder Chigozie Okorie and freshman forward Jose Uresti have all scored two goals apiece. Collectively, the Purple Knights have totaled 15 goals and 39 points. Graduate student Clement Anet leads Bridgeport between the pipes this season. After spending two seasons at Limestone, Amet has accumulated a 3-4-2 record, a 1.30 GAA and a .727 save percentage this fall with the Purple Knights.
ALL-TIME SERIES: DAEMEN VS. BRIDGEPORT
Series Record: Bridgeport 7-0-0
At Bridgeport: Bridgeport 3-0-0
Last Meeting: Bridgeport 7, Daemen 1 | October 5, 2019 | at Amherst, NY
