Game #9
Daemen Wildcats (2-6-0, 1-3-0 ECC) vs St. Thomas Aquinas Spartans (6-2-1, 3-1-0 ECC)
DATE: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9
TIME: 1:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Amherst, N.Y. / Karrer Field
LIVE STREAM: Via ECC Sports Network
LIVE STATS: Via Daemen Athletics
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
1. BACK IN ACTION
Daemen continues their 2021 campaign when they welcome the St. Thomas Aquinas Spartans for an East Coast Conference matchup at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Karrer Field in Amherst, N.Y. Saturday is the eighth all-time meeting between the programs. STAC won the last matchup to date, 6-1, on November 9, 2019. STAC leads the all-time series, 5-2-0 – with both losses on the road. This will be Daemen's first contest since a 1-0 loss against Molloy on Oct. 2. Daemen allowed the lone goal in the 68th minute, extending their losing streak to four consecutive games since their 4-1 victory against D'Youville on Sept. 18. The Wildcats, however, did record seven shots on net in the contest. Senior goalkeeper
Marcos Lerma Escobar (Zaragoza, Spain) was in net for an eighth consecutive start and recorded four saves in the loss. This contest was the fourth time Daemen was held scoreless this season – and the third time in as many contests.
2. BALANCED SCORING
Through the team's first eight contests, six players have combined for Daemen's total of eight goals while nine different players have recorded at least one point (team total of 22.) Juniors
Trey Buscaglia (East Amherst, N.Y.) and
Christian Lewin (Bobenheim-Roxheim, Germany) currently lead the Wildcats with two goals each. Buscaglia also leads the team in overall points (5.) Fellow veterans
Derek Bartlo (Williamsville, N.Y.),
Anthony Cupello (Rochester, N.Y.),
Pontus Lundin (Asmundtorp, Sweden) and
Dennis Montero Guerrero (Weingarten, Germany) round out the scoring with one goal apiece. Freshman midfielder
Vincent Ranieri (Spencerport, N.Y.) has contributed two of Daemen's six assists so far in the young season. Since their ECC-opening victory against D'Youville on Sept. 18, Daemen has now been outscored, 9-1, including three consecutive shutouts.
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. 8, Molloy and Dist. Columbia remain in a tie for first place after both teams improved to 4-0-0 last weekend. St. Thomas Aquinas and Bridgeport are currently tied for third place at 3-1-0 while Roberts Wesleyan holds onto fifth place at 1-1-0. Daemen is currently tied for seventh with Queens with a 1-3-0 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 Chestnut Hill Griffin of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference in a non-conference matchup on Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 3:30 PM at Karrer Field. This contest concludes a season-best four-game homestand for Daemen men's soccer.
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS SCOUTING REPORT
St. Thomas Aquinas is a member of the East Coast Conference. The Spartans saw their 2020 season canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. STAC enters Saturday's contest with a 6-2-1 overall record and 3-1-0 in ECC play and look for a fourth consecutive win following a 3-2 victory over ECC opponent Mercy on Oct. 3. St. Thomas Aquinas is led by 20-year head coach Graham Brown, who also coached the women's program simultaneously from 2012 to 2020. In their last full season back in 2019, Brown and the Spartans finished 4-11-1 overall and are searching for their fourth 10-win season since the program was founded in 2001 – their first since 2018. The Spartans return 11 players from 2019, including current top playmaker Anthony Bolivar Sanchez. The senior forward leads the Spartans in goals scored (7) and total points (16.) His seven goals are tied for the third most among all ECC players in 2021. Freshman midfielder Cole Allen and sophomore midfielder and forward Seif Samy have tallied three goals each. STAC has scored 22 goals and recorded 57 points through their first nine contests. Senior Asier Vegas will likely get the start for the Spartans between the pipes as he has started in five of his six appearances this season. The veteran goalkeeper has a 5-1-0 overall record with a 1.20 GAA and a .794 save percentage.
ALL-TIME SERIES: DAEMEN VS. ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
Series Record: STAC 5-2-0
At Daemen: Daemen 2-1-0
Last Meeting: STAC 6, Daemen 1 | November 9, 2019 | at Sparkill, NY
