AMHERST, N.Y. -- Junior goalkeeper Harry Firth (Reading, England) of Daemen University has been named the East Coast Conference Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for games played August 29-Sept. 4. The announcement of award winners was made via the league's weekly sport report which was released this afternoon. He becomes the first Daemen men's soccer player to be selected ECC Defensive Player of the Week since former goalkeeper Matt Daddario in September of 2014.

It also marks the second-straight week that a Daemen men's soccer player has earned an ECC weekly honor. Last week freshman Riccardo Boscolo Bachetto (Chioggia, Italy) was named ECC Rookie of the Week after scoring two goals, including the game-winner, in a season-opening win over Saint Michael's College.

Firth, a transfer from Wheeling University, made his Daemen debut last Thursday against Malone University and stopped seven of eight shots on goal to lead the Wildcats to a 2-1 victory. Five of his seven saves came in the second half as Malone pressured the Daemen offensive zone attempting to score the game-tying goal.

In addition, senior back Derek Bartlo (Williamsville, N.Y.) was named to the ECC weekly honor roll. He scored the game-winning goal and also assisted on Daemen's game-tying goal in the 2-1 win over Malone. Bartlo has played every minute in all three games and ranks second on the team in goals (2) and points (5) so far this season.

Daemen is undefeated on the year (2-0-1) and is off to its best start since opening the 2010 season 4-1-0.

Daemen concludes its season-opening stretch of four-straight home games Saturday (Sept. 10) when it opens ECC play by hosting Mercy College at Karrer Field. Mercy was picked third in the 2022 ECC preseason poll and stands at 2-1-1 on the year. The Mavericks host American International College Wednesday, before heading to Western New York. Saturday's game will also be the ECC opener for Mercy.


Daemen University features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 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 University men's soccer program on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @DaemenMSOC.