Game #6
Daemen Wildcats (2-4-0, 1-1-0 ECC) vs Roberts Wesleyan Redhawks (2-4-1, 0-1-1 ECC)
DATE: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
TIME: 3:30 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 renew the Thruway Rivalry with their long-time rival, the Roberts Wesleyan Redhawks, at 3:30 p.m. at Karrer Field in Amherst, N.Y. Wednesday is the 24th all-time meeting between the programs. Daemen won the last matchup to date on their Senior Day, 3-1, on April 25, 2021 at Karrer Field. This was Daemen's first win in the series since Sept. 22, 2018. Roberts Wesleyan leads the all-time series, 16-5-2. This will be Daemen's first contest since a 1-0 overtime loss against ECC opponent University of District Columbia on Sept. 25. The Wildcats did not record a single shot on net in the contest offensively but had a strong game defensively until Vitor Gomes scored the game-winning goal to lift the Firebirds in the 97th minute. Senior goaltender
Marcos Lerma Escobar (Zaragoza, Spain) was in net for a sixth consecutive start and recorded eight saves in the loss. Saturday was the second time Daemen was held scoreless in a contest in 2021 (1-0 loss at Slippery Rock on Sept. 11.) With the loss, Daemen is now 5-4 in their last nine contests dating back to rattling off three straight victories to conclude their COVID-19 abbreviated slate in spring 2021. This is also the first time Daemen has lost consecutive contests since their defeats against Gannon (2-1) on March 21, 2021 and Roberts Wesleyan (4-2) on March 27, 2021. This is also Daemen's first overtime finish as a program since their 2-1 loss versus Walsh on Sept. 7, 2019 at Karrer Field. Daemen is still searching for their first overtime victory in program history since a 3-2 win over Queens College on Oct. 18, 2017 – one of three contests for Daemen that finished in extra periods in 2017.
2. BALANCED SCORING
Through the team's first six 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 scoring in the 80th minute of a 4-2 loss to Roberts Wesleyan on March 27, 2021, Daemen has now outscored their opponents, 15-11.
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 Sept. 28, Molloy and Dist. Columbia are currently in a tie for first place after moving to 2-0-0 this past weekend. Mercy sits in third place at 1-0-1 while Daemen is currently in a four-way tie for fourth place with Queens, St. Thomas Aquinas and Bridgeport with a 1-1-0 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 Molloy Lions in an East Coast Conference matchup on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 11 AM at Karrer Field.
ROBERTS WESLEYAN SCOUTING REPORT
Roberts Wesleyan is a member of the East Coast Conference. The Redhawks completed an abbreviated 2020 season that was postponed to spring 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and finished with a 3-2-0 overall record. The Redhawks enter Wednesday's contest with a 2-4-1 overall record and 0-1-1 in ECC play following recent contests against Molloy (2-1 loss on Sept. 18) and Mercy (2-2 tie on Sept. 25.) Roberts Wesleyan is led by seventh-year head coach Scott Reber. In their last full season back in 2019, Reber and the Redhawks finished 11-9-1 overall and advanced to the NCCAA Championships in December before being eliminated in pool play. Before this, the Redhawks advanced to the semifinal round of the ECC Tournament before bowing out to Bridgeport (2-0 loss on Nov. 13, 2021.) Prior to being named head coach, Reber was a two-time assistant with the program from 2002-2004 and 2011-2014 and was a member of the 1985 East Region East Region Division 1 NCCAA Championship team that qualified for and competed in the NCCAA National Soccer Championship. Overall, Reber enters Wednesday with a lifetime record of 39-54-8. The Redhawks return 11 players from this past spring, all of whom were also members of the program in 2019. Senior Dylan Ruiz leads the team in goals (7) and points (16) in 2021. In four career contests against the Wildcats, the senior has recorded five goals and 10 points. Junior goalkeeper Jared Gibbons has started in all seven contests for RWC, posting two wins, a 1.80 GAA and a .667 save percentage.
ALL-TIME SERIES: DAEMEN VS. ROBERTS WESLEYAN
Series Record: Roberts Wesleyan 16-5-2
At Daemen: Roberts Wesleyan 8-3
Last Meeting: Daemen 3, Roberts Wesleyan 1 | April 25, 2021 | at Amherst, N.Y.
