Pamela Cox

Senior Alexander Khademi is part of a veteran defense that established a NCAA-era record for fewest goals allowed in a season last year.

Men's Soccer Opens 2023 Season in Ohio

8/30/2023 10:22:00 AM

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

AMHERST, N.Y. – The Daemen men's soccer team opens the 2023 season this weekend with two games in Canton, Ohio. The Wildcats play the Cavaliers of Walsh on Thursday night (Aug. 31) at 7:30 p.m. and the Pioneers of Malone on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 2) at 1 p.m.

THE WILDCATS
Daemen has been picked to finish fifth in the East Coast Conference (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).

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.) will challenge for the starting goalkeeper job. Bustamante earned All-South Coast Conference honors last year at Rio Hondo College.

ROAD WARRIORS
Daemen will play its first three games--and seven of its first 10 games--on the road. The Wildcats will play just five homes games during the 2023 season.

THE CAVALIERS
Walsh is a NCAA Division II member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC). Head coach Andy Hoggarth is entering his eighth season at Walsh. The Cavaliers went 10-6-3 overall (7-5-2 GMAC) last year and lost to Cedarville in the opening round of the GMAC Tournament. They were picked sixth in the 2023 GMAC preseason poll. Hoggarth returns three of the top six scorers from last season, including junior midfielder Gabriel Altawil (4 gls) and sophomore forward Gabe Anderson (3 gls, 1 ast). Sophomore goalkeeper Charlie Walker (1,18 GAA, 6 SO) returns after earning third team all-conference as a rookie last year.

SERIES HISTORY
Thurday's contest will mark the 19th all-time meeting between the two former NAIA rivals. Walsh has prevailed in 16 of the previous 18 meetings. Daemen's lone win came during the 2017 season, a 2-1 victory at Karrer Field. The team's battled to a 1-1 tie last year at Karrer Field. The last three games between the two schools have either ended in a tie or have been decided by one goal.

THE PIONEERS
Malone is a NCAA Division II member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC). Bill Lawrence, a former assistant coach, is entering his second season as head coach. The Pioneers went 4-14-0 overall and 2-12-0 in the GMAC last year. They were picked 12th in the 2023 GMAC preseason poll. Sophomore Christian Piccolotto led the team in scoring as a freshman last year with six goals, five assists and 17 points. Junior goalkeeper Gavin Ernst played in 16 game last year and posted a 2.73 goal against average.

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's contest will mark the 16th all-time meeting between Daemen and Malone. Malone owns a 9-6 advantage in the all-time series, but Daemen has prevailed in three of the last four contests. The Wildcats posted a 2-1 win over the Pioneers last year at Karrer Field. Derek Barto netted the game-winner off a pass from Michel Holscher with 15:25 left to play.

UP NEXT
Daemen is idle until Saturday, Sept. 9 when it travels to Burlington, Vermont to face Saint Michael's College in a non-conference game.

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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