Calvin Kron surveys the field in Daemen's season-opening loss to Malone.

Men's Soccer Concludes Regular Season Against National Champions Franklin Pierce and Rival D'Youville

10/29/2024 10:13:00 AM

By: CONTACT: Max Sacco, Assistant Athletics Communications Director | msacco@daemen.edu

ON THE PITCH
The Daemen University men's soccer team takes the pitch for the final time during the 2024 regular season this week when they face the defending NCAA Division II National Champions No. 9 Franklin Pierce University on Oct. 30 before battling crosstown rival D'Youville to close out the season on Nov. 2. Kick-off for both matches is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

REGIONAL AND NATIONAL TESTS
Franklin Pierce is the third team Daemen will face this season that is either ranked regionally or nationally in the United Soccer Coaches Top-25 poll. Earlier this year, the Wildcats drew 0-0 with St. Thomas Aquinas College (Sept. 28) who was ranked eighth in the East Region at the time. Last time out against a nationally ranked team, Daemen lost 4-0 to No. 20 Mercy University on Oct. 26. Currently, the Ravens are ranked No. 9 nationally and second in the East Region.

TWICE AS NICE
Graduate student Dennis Montero Guerrero (Weingarten, Germany) and Rayane Baitiche (Thionville, France) are the only two members of the Blue and White to score twice in a match this season. Montero Guerrero supplied both of Daemen's goals in their 2-1 win over Lock Haven University back on Sept. 11, while Baitiche found the back of the net twice against Goldey-Beacom College on Sept. 18. Both instances marked the first time either player had scored two-or-more times in a contest while with Daemen.

MAN BETWEEN THE STICKS
Senior Arturo Bustamante (South Gate, Calif.) established a new career-high with a 13 save outing against Mercy on Oct. 26. The senior goalkeeper has made 10-or-more saves in consecutive contests and three times overall this season. Bustamante leads the ECC and is ranked fourth nationally in saves per game with average of 6.33 while his 76 total saves rank seventh in the nation and also lead the conference.

ONE OF ONE
Through 13 games this season, sophomore Calvin Kron (Greece, N.Y.) is the only player to start and appear for every contest for the Wildcats this season. On seven occasions, Kron has played the full 90 minutes, most recently against Mercy on Oct. 26.

SCOUTING FRANKLIN PIERCE (9-1-4)
The defending national champions are undefeated across their last five matches, going 4-0-1 with an average of three goals per game. Guillermo Avendaño has led the offensive charge with seven goals while Antonio Lima leads the Ravens in points with 16. In net, Karl Vernet had made 11 starts and collected six wins while posting a 1.07 GAA.

SERIES HISTORY
Daemen and Franklin Pierce have never played one another in men's soccer.

SCOUTING D'YOUVILLE (4-7-4)
The Saints are currently sit in fifth place in the ECC standings with nine conference points. The Saints are 2-1-2 across their last five with wins against ECC opponents the College of Staten Island and Roberts Wesleyan University. Ethan Robinson and Shawn Richardson have led the Saints attack with four goals each while in net, Matthew Solorio has started all 15 contests and amassed a GAA of 1.53.

SERIES HISTORY
Daemen is undefeated against D'Youville, holding a record of 7-0. The Wildcats defeated D'Youville last year at home, 3-2.

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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