Game #4
Daemen Wildcats (1-2-0, 0-0-0 ECC) vs St. Anselm Hawks (1-1-0, 0-1-0 NE-10)
DATE: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
TIME: 3 p.m. - UPDATED 9/15 DUE TO EXPECTED INCLEMENT WEATHER
LOCATION: Manchester, N.H. / Melucci Field
LIVE STREAM BROADCAST: Via NE-10 Now
LIVE STATS: Via St. Anselm Athletics


FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

1. BACK IN ACTION
Daemen women's soccer resumes their traditional 16-game schedule with a mid-week contest when they visit the St. Anselm Hawks for a non-conference duel at 4:00 at Melucci Field in Manchester, N.H. This is the first meeting for Daemen against the long-time Northeast-10 affiliate in program history.

 
2. LAST TIME OUT
The Wildcats recorded their first win in fall 2021 with a 1-0 victory over Mercyhurst in a nonconference matchup held at Williamsville South High School in Williamsville, N.Y. on Sept. 11. In her first start of the season, sophomore Brooke Amato (Grand Island, N.Y.) scored the game's lone goal within the first minute of play. By scoring, Amato, the latest ECC Offensive Player of the Week, recorded her fifth career goal while wearing the blue-and-white. The forward now joins current teammates Grace Stranahan (Grand Island, N.Y.), Katja Meyer (Verona, Ny.), and Sam Hanes (North Tonawanda, N.Y.) to score at least five goals during their time at Daemen. Amato led the Wildcats in their 2020-21 unorthodox season in both goals (4) and points (8.) Junior goalkeeper Tori DeLappi (Medina, Ohio) was named ECC Defensive Player of the Week after recording a six-save performance and her first shutout of the season. This was the first shutout for DeLappi since Daemen's 4-0 victory at Mansfield on Sept. 8, 2019. This was Daemen's first win and shutout as a program since a 5-0 victory versus D'Youville on April 17, 2021. This contest against the Saints was eventually the final contest completed in Spring of 2021 after the season finale versus Roberts Wesleyan on May 2 was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols. This was also Daemen's first victory against Mercyhurst since the series began in October 2007 (seven games.) This was the first meeting since a 3-0 victory for Mercyhurst on Sept. 18, 2018 in a contest held in Erie, Pa.

3. RETURNING VETERANS
Daemen returns 17 players who were on the roster for the unorthodox 2020-21 academic year, including 10 who were part of the Wildcats' NCAA tournament team in 2019 when they finished 11-4-3 – the best season in the program's NCAA era (2015 – present.) Brooke Amato (Grand Island, N.Y.) wrapped up her freshman campaign 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.
 
4. POLLS, POLLS, POLLS
Daemen women's soccer has been picked to finish fourth in the East Coast Conference this season according to the league's preseason poll which was released on August 27. Daemen earned 63 total points following their abbreviated spring season. The ECC Tournament will feature the top four teams in the final regular season standing 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.
 
5. ON THE HORIZON
Daemen continues their road trip when they make the short trek to Buffalo and start their slate of East Coast Conference contests against the D'Youville Saints on Saturday, Sept. 18 at 12 p.m. at Dobson Field.  
 

ST. ANSELM SCOUTING REPORT
St. Anselm is a member of the Northeast-10 Conference and enter Wednesday's contest with a 1-1 overall record after a pair of double overtime finishes against Assumption (2-1 victory) and #6 St. Rose (3-2 loss.) The Hawks played just one match during the 2020 season that was postponed to spring 2021 due to COVID-19 protocols, a 3-1 victory over Franklin Pierce on April 26. The Hawks are led by fourth-year head coach Joel Bancroft. In 2019, their last full season pre-COVID, the Hawks finished 7-3-7 overall with their highest win percentage since the 2005 season (.618.) In 2018, The Hawks recorded a 9-7-1 overall record and made their first postseason appearance since 2013. Prior to taking over as head coach in 2017, Bancroft spent four seasons on the coaching staff of UMass Lowell, including three years as head coach.This fall, St. Anselm returns 20 players from their spring contest against Franklin Pierce and only seven returnees were on the roster in 2019. Junior midfielder Grace Foley and sophomore forward Olivia Gotobed lead the Hawks with two goals apiece so far in 2021. Gotobed scored the game-winning goal in the 105th minute for the Hawks against Assumption on Sept. 8. Junior goalkeeper Kate Macaluso started both contests in net for the Hawks and enters with a 1.75 GAA and a .714 save percentage.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES: DAEMEN VS. ST. ANSELM
Series Record: 0-0
At St. Anselm: N / A
Last Meeting: N / A