Men's Soccer Takes On Nationally-Ranked Mercyhurst Wednesday, Hosts Molloy Saturday

10/3/2023 6:07:00 PM

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

AMHERST, N.Y. – The Daemen men's soccer team will play two games this week, as the Wildcats travel to nationally-ranked Mercyhurst University on Wednesday and then host Molloy University in an East Coast Conference game Saturday.

THE WILDCATS
Daemen stands at 2-5-1 overall and 1-2-0 in the ECC. The Wildcats are coming off a 4-0 loss at District of Columbia this past Saturday. Daemen was picked to finish fifth in the ECC this season according to the ECC preseason poll. It marks the highest preseason ranking for the Wildcats since they first joined the conference in 2013. Daemen enjoyed one of the most successful seasons in program history last fall and closed out the year with a 7-7-3 overall record and a 3-4-1 mark in ECC play. The Wildcats entered the final game of the season in contention for their first ever appearance in the four team ECC Championship tournament. The seven wins tied the program record for most in a season set in 2005, 2006 and 2017. Daemen returns just 13 players from last year and the 2023 roster features 17 newcomers (11 transfers, 6 freshmen). Freshman Elijah Douglas (Clarence, N.Y.) scored his first two collegiate goals during a 3-1 win over Malone and was named ECC Rookie of the Week for his efforts. Douglas has scored a team-high three goals on the year.

Defense was a big factor in Daemen's success last fall, as the Wildcats limited 12 of their 17 opponents to one goal or less and established a NCAA-era record for fewest goals allowed (26) in a season. Graduate student Derek Bartlo (Williamsville, N.Y.) returns in the midfield off a record-breaking season last year. An all-region and all-conference selection, he finished as the team leader in goals (10), assists (4) and points (24). He recorded at least one point in eight of Daemen's final 10 games and established a new program record for most goals and points in a season during Daemen's NCAA era (2015-present). Senior Harry Firth (Reading, England), who saw limited time in his first season with the team last year, and junior college transfer Arturo Bustamante (South Gate, Calif.) have shared the goaltending duties thus far. Bustamante earned All-South Coast Conference honors last year at Rio Hondo College. Firth has started five games this year and made five saves in a 1-1 tie with Saint Michael's. Bustamante made eight saves in a loss to nationally-ranked Gannon and two saves in a 3-1 win over Staten Island.

SUDDEN IMPACT
Daemen has scored 10 goals this season and all of them have been scored by a newcomer. Freshman Elijah Douglas (Clarence, N.Y.) leads the team with three goals.

THE LAKERS
Mercyhurst is a NCAA Division II member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). Mercyhurst is ranked No. 20 in this week's United Soccer Coaches Division II national poll and stands at 7-1-0 on the year. The Lakers are coming off a 3-0 win over Seton Hill this past Saturday. Austin Solomon is entering his first season as head coach after serving as an assistant the past nine years. The Lakers went 19-1-1 overall (10-0-0 PSAC), claimed the PSAC Tournament title and lost in the second round of the NCAA Division II Tournament last year. They were tied with Gannon atop the 2023 PSAC West Division preseason poll. A total of 29 players return from last year, including 2022 PSAC West Player of the Year Dylan Sumner who totaled nine goals 15 assists and 33 points last year. He has totaled a team-high five goals and 13 points this fall. All-conference selections Julius Becker and Lockie Fay also return. Freshman Jamie Tedaldi has started five games in net and has allowed just on goal all season.

SERIES HISTORY
Wednesday's contest will mark just the fourth all-time meeting between the Wildcats and the Lakers. Mercyhurst has prevailed in each of the previous three meetings, including a 1-0 decision last year.

THE LIONS
Molloy returns 15 players from last year and welcomes 15 newcomers (12 freshmen, 3 transfers) to the 2023 roster. The Lions (1-7-2, 0-2-1 ECC) opened the year with a 1-0 win over Saint Anselm but are winless (0-7-2) over their last nine games. Eight of their 10 games have been decided by just one goal. They suffered a 3-2 loss at Felician on Saturday and play at Assumption Wednesday before taking on the Wildcats. Molloy's ECC results include a 4-0 loss to St. Thomas Aquinas, a 1-1 draw with UDC and a 1-0 loss to Roberts Wesleyan. Head coach Matthew Sloan is is his first season at Molloy. The Lions went 8-4-8 overall (6-0-2 ECC) last year and lost to Mercy on penalty kicks in the championship game of the ECC Tournament. They were picked third in the 2023 ECC preseason poll. All-ECC selections Ollie Murch, Jonas Jacobsen and Ryan Dobson all return to the lineup. Dobson totaled eight goals and a team-high 19 points last year. Graduate student Dennis Mejia has started seven games in goal this season and made a season-high seven saves in a 1-0 loss to Adelphi.

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's contest will mark the 10th all-time meeting between the Wildcats and the Lions. Molloy has prevailed in the last three meetings and owns a 7-2-0 advantage in the series. Molloy posted a 2-0 win last year on Long Island.

UP NEXT
Daemen returns to action next Wednesday (Oct. 11) when it travels to Albany, N.Y. to face the College of Saint Rose in a non-conference tilt.

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 men's soccer program on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @DaemenMSOC.

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