Pamela Cox

Men's Soccer Heads To UDC For ECC Match Saturday

9/28/2023 10:47:00 AM

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

AMHERST, N.Y. – The Daemen men's soccer team heads to Maryland this weekend (Sept. 30) for an East Coast Conference match against the University of the District of Columbia. The Wildcats were scheduled to play at D'Youville University yesterday (Sept. 27), but that match was postponed and has been rescheduled for Oct. 25.

THE WILDCATS
Daemen stands at 2-4-1 overall and 1-1-0 in the ECC. The Wildcats are coming off a 3-1 victory over Staten Island this past weekend at Karrer Field. 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 four 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 the 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 FIREBIRDS
UDC returns 17 players from last year and welcomes 14 newcomers (7 freshmen, 7 transfers) to the 2023 roster. The Firebirds battled Molloy to a 1-1 draw last Sunday and suffered a 2-1 loss at St. Thomas Aquinas yesterday . They stand at 2-4-3 overall and 0-1-2 in the ECC. UDC's other league result was a 0-0 draw with Roberts Wesleyan. Head coach Matt Thompson is is his 13th season ay UDC. The Firebirds went 7-7-2 overall and 2-5-1 in the ECC last year. They were picked sixth in the 2023 ECC preseason poll. All-ECC selections Axel Gamez and Santiago Gordillo Martinez return. Gamez totaled four goals and four assists as a freshman last year, while Martinez netted a team-high five goals. Gamez has scored a goal in each of the last two games and has scored four goals this season. Junior Ignacio Pericet has scored three times this year. Newcomers Sergio Becerra and Bryan Diaz-Blanco have shared the goaltending duties thus far. Becerra made five saves in the 0-0 tie with RWU and eight saves in the 2-1 loss to STAC.

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's contest will mark just the 10th all-time meeting between the Wildcats and the Firebirds. UDC has prevailed in the previous eight meetings and owns an 8-0-1 advantage in the series. The Firebirds posted a 3-2 win over Daemen last year at Karrer Field.

UP NEXT
Daemen plays two games next week. The Wildcats travel to Erie, Pa. to face nationally-ranked Mercyhurst University Wednesday (Oct. 4) and then host Molloy University in an ECC match Saturday (Oct. 7).

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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