AMHERST, N.Y. – The Daemen College women's soccer team has been picked to finish fourth in the East Coast Conference this season according to the ECC preseason poll which was released today from conference headquarters in West Babylon, N.Y. following a vote of the league's 10 head coaches.
Daemen earned 63 points in the poll after finishing 2-2-0 overall during a shortened 2020 that was played in spring 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Their last traditional season in 2019 saw the Wildcats have a season for the ages. That season, the blue-and-white advanced to the NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament for the first time in program history before their 4-0 loss to St. Rose on Nov. 22, 2019 and recorded an 11-4-3 record – the best season in their NCAA era (2015 – present).
In the latest preseason poll, Mercy College is at the top and received four of the 10 first place votes (93 total points). In 2019, the last season ECC play was in effect, the Mavericks advanced all the way to the NCAA East Regional semifinals before bowing out to Molloy. In 2021, Molloy ranks second in the preseason poll (90 points) and also received four first place votes. The Lions enter this season as the defending ECC champions and also reached the 2019 NCAA East Regional finals but were edged by St. Rose. Bridgeport is ranked third and received two first place votes (82 points total.)
Daemen's long-time rival, Roberts Wesleyan, sits right below the Wildcats in fifth place (59 points total). In the abbreviated season this past spring, the Redhawks defeated the Wildcats, 1-0, on April 3, which saw the scoreless streak between the two teams end at 167 minutes. This is a streak that began in their double-overtime tie on Oct. 26, 2019. A second date for the abbreviated season was scheduled for Daemen's Senior Day on May 2 but the match was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols. The I-90 Thruway rivalry will continue Wednesday, Sept. 29 at Karrer Field.
Queens and St. Thomas Aquinas are tied for sixth in the poll with 49 points apiece. Staten Island (27 points), D'Youville (24 points) and East Coast Conference newcomer Lincoln (11 points) round out the preseason polls.
On the roster for 13
th-year head coach
Dan Dolan are 17 returnees, including 10 players who were part of the Wildcats' NCAA Tournament team in 2019.
Brooke Amato (Grand Island, N.Y.) wrapped up her freshman campaign in the spring as the team leader in goals (4) and points (8.) Team MVP
Nicole Grichen (North Tonawanda, N.Y.) and incumbent starters
Katja Meyer (Verona, N.Y.),
Julia Eichel (Grand Island, N.Y.),
Sam Hanes (North Tonawanda, N.Y.),
Grace Stranahan (Grand Island, N.Y.),
Tatyjana Scalisi (Williamsville, N.Y.) and
Madita Zeitz (Malsch, Germany) also return. Goalkeeper
Tori DeLappi (Medina, Ohio) made two starts and three appearances this past spring between the pipes and recorded a 1.00 GAA and a .857 save percentage.
Daemen opens the 2021 season with a pre-Labor Day road trip with contests against Wilmington (Del.) on Sept. 3 and Goldey-Beacom on Sept. 4 in their return to a traditional 16-game schedule. ECC play begins Saturday, Sept. 18 with the Wildcats making the short-trek to D'Youville in Buffalo. 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 Thursday, November 11; the highest remaining seed hosts the tournament finals on Sunday, November 14.
2021 ECC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Mercy (4) - 93
2. Molloy (4) - 90
3. Bridgeport (2) - 82
4.
DAEMEN - 63
5. Roberts Wesleyan - 59
T6. Queens - 49
T6. St. Thomas Aquinas - 49
8. Staten Island - 27
9. D'Youville - 24
10. Lincoln - 11
Daemen College features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 18 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.
Follow the Daemen College women's soccer program on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @DaemenWSOC
