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Daemen University Athletics

Western New York's Premier Division II Team
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Selim Ozleplebici runs up the field against Malone on Sept. 5, 2024

Men's Soccer Prepares to Face Regionally Ranked St. Thomas Aquinas

9/27/2024 10:00:00 AM

By: CONTACT: Max Sacco, Assistant Athletics Communications Director | msacco@daemen.edu
MATCH 7 – Daemen at St. Thomas Aquinas | Sept. 28 | 2:30 p.m. | Spartan Field | Sparkill, N.Y.
Live Stream and Links: ECC Network | Live Stats
Daemen Links: Roster | Schedule | Stats
STAC Links: Roster | Schedule | Stats
ON THE PITCH
The Daemen University men's soccer team heads to Sparkill, N.Y., for a test against regionally ranked St. Thomas Aquinas College. Kick-off from Spartan Field is set for 2:30 p.m.
 
FINDING HIS FORM
Senior Emmanuel Perez (Los Angeles, Calif.) has registered at least one point in four of his last five games. Perez has scored two goals and tallied two assists during the span. The streak dates to Sept. 7 at Walsh when the Los Angeles, Calif., native, scored the game winning goal in the Wildcats 2-1 win over the Cavs. In his last game, Perez scored Daemen's first goal in their 3-2 setback against the College of Staten Island.
 
MAN BETWEEN THE STICKS
Senior Autruo Bustamane (South Gate, Calif.) is currently ranked 18th in the nation and second in the ECC for total saves with 28. His 28 saves are one behind Callum Hunt (Molloy) who leads the ECC. The senior keeper is also ranked 34th in the country for saves per game with an average of 4.67 through six games played. This season, Bustamante set a new career-high for saves with 10 against Walsh on Sept. 7 and has started and played in all six games for Daemen as well. 
 
SEEING DOUBLE
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 game while with Daemen.

GOING HOME
The Wildcats game against the Spartans represents the final game of their three-game road swing. The three game road swing is the longest the Wildcats will be away from home during the 2024 campaign with every other trip no longer than two away matches.
SCOUTING ST. THOMAS AQUINAS (5-1)
The Spartans were ranked eighth in the latest United Soccer Coaches East Region Poll after going 1-1 the past week with a 2-1 loss at No. 14 Felician University (Sept. 21) and 4-0 win against Assumption University (Sept. 24). Leading the offensive attack for St. Thomas Aquinas has been Kevon Evans who has 10 goals, two of which have served as the game winner. In net, Dalton Houser has played in five contests with three starts and leads the team in save percentage (.696) and goals-against average (1.62).
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Spartans lead the all-time series, 7-3, and won last year's meeting, 1-0, on Daemen's Senior Day off a goal from Evans in the 53rd minute.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats return home to face local rival Roberts Wesleyan on Oct. 2 with kick-off set for 3:30 p.m.
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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