Women's Soccer Hosts Nationally Ranked Adelphi Wednesday

10/10/2023 4:11:00 PM

By: CONTACT: Tom McDermott, Director of Athletics Communications | tmcdermo@daemen.edu

AMHERST, N.Y. – The Daemen women's soccer team plays just one game this week, as the Wildcats play host to nationally-ranked Adelphi University Wednesday at Karrer Field. It will mark the final non-conference game of the season for the Wildcats.

THE WILDCATS (6-3-1, 4-0-0 ECC)
Daemen has won five straight game and is undefeated (6-0-1) over its last seven games. The five game winning streak is the longest for Daemen since opening the 2019 season with five-straight victories. The Wildcats have outscored their opponents 21-4 during the unbeaten streak. Daemen remained unbeaten in East Coast Conference play (4-0-0) following a 4-1 win over Molloy this past weekend at Karrer Field. Nine different players have scored for the Wildcats so far this season. Sophomore Kylie Miranto (North Tonawanda, N.Y.) recorded her first career hat trick in a 5-0 win over Lincoln and leads the ECC in goals (9) and points (21). Freshman Magda Carpenter (Lebanon, Conn,) netted two goals in the win over Molloy--her second multi-goal game of the year--and ranks second among the ECC leaders in goals (5) and points (12). Sophomore Becca Schultz (Grand Island, N.Y.) has played every minute in goal this season and has allowed just four goals over the last seven games. Among the ECC leaders, she ranks first in save percentage (.853), second in both total saves (64) and wins (6) and third in goals against average (1.10).

Daemen returns 19 players from last year and welcomes eight newcomers (six freshmen, two transfers) to the 2023 roster. Daemen went 5-1-1 over its final seven games last fall and earned its second-straight bid to the four-team ECC Championship tournament. The Wildcats suffered a 2-0 loss to eventual champion Mercy College in the semifinals. Daemen is ranked fourth in the 2023 ECC preseason coaches' poll. Five of the top six scorers return to the fold, including All-ECC selections Alyssa Diaz (Rochester, N.Y.), Tatyjana Scalisi (Williamsville, N.Y.) and Kylie Miranto (North Tonawanda, N.Y.). Diaz, a junior forward/defender, has earned all-conference honors in each of her first two seasons and totaled a team-high seven goals and 16 points last year. Scalisi has also collected All-ECC honors the past two seasons and has totaled nine goals and 28 points over her career. Miranto started 15 of 17 games as freshman last year and ranked second on the team in goals (5) and points (11).

WEEKLY HONORS FOR SCHULTZ AND CARPENTER
Becca Schultz (Grand Island, N.Y.) and Magda Carpenter (Lebanon, Conn.) have been honored by the ECC for their play last week. Schultz was named the ECC Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for the third time this season, while Carpenter was named ECC Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week for the second time. The announcement of award winners was made via the league's weekly sport report .

WILDCATS CRACK REGIONAL RANKINGS
Daemen is ranked among the top Division II teams in the East Region by the United Soccer Coaches (USC). It marks the first time the Wildcats have appeared in the regional rankings since the end of the 2019 season. Daemen is ranked No. 10 in the poll released Tuesday.

THE PANTHERS (8-1-1, 5-0-1 NE-10)
Adelphi is a NCAA Division II member of the Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10). The Panthers suffered a season-opening loss to Wilmington, but are unbeaten (8-0-1) since than and will be playing their first game since posting a 5-0 win over Pace on Oct. 3. AU is ranked 17th nationally and second in the East Region by the United Soccer Coaches. The Panthers went 12-6-2 (8-2-2 NE-10), advanced to the championship game of the NE-10 tournament and suffered a loss to Mercy in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Tournament last year. Head coach Brooke DeRosa is in her ninth season and has led the Panthers to four NCAA tournament appearances. She returns 18 players from last year's team and welcomes 10 newcomers (7 freshmen, 3 transfers). Sophomore midfielder Madison Apicella returns after totaling a team-high 24 points (8 gls, 8 asts) lasty year and earning NE-10 Player and Rookie of the Year honors. Graduate student goalkeeper Krista Aliscio returns after starting 15 games last year. She has started nine games this season and ranks second among the NE-10 leaders in goals against average (0.67). She made a season-high seven saves in a 3-1 win over Saint Michael's.

SERIES HISTORY
Wednesday's contest will mark the first ever meeting between the Wildcats and the Panthers.

UP NEXT
The Wildcats return to action next Wednesday (Oct. 18) when they head to Rochester, N.Y. for an ECC match at regionally-ranked Roberts Wesleyan University.

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 women's soccer program on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @DaemenWSOC.

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