ECC Championship Semifinals – #4 Daemen at #1 Mercy | Nov. 9 | 1 p.m. | Mercy Field | Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
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MOVING ON
The No. 4-seeded Daemen University women's soccer team defeated No. 5 seed Queens in the ECC Championship first round on Thursday and now heads to Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., to play No. 1-seeded Mercy in the semifinals on Sunday afternoon. Tickets must be purchased for the game and can be bought through the ECC website, HERE. Daemen is looking to get back to the ECC Championship game for the third consecutive season. This also marks the fourth consecutive year Daemen has qualified for the conference tournament.
LAST TIME OUT
Becca Schultz (Grand Island, N.Y.) made 12 saves, while Macayla Hansen (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) and Kylie Miranto (North Tonawanda, N.Y.) each scored to help Daemen defeat Queens 2-1 in the ECC First Round on Thursday evening. Hansen converted a penalty kick in the eighth minute, giving Daemen a 1-0 lead. Miranto then found the back of the net in the 49th minute, assisted by Kaitlyn Wright (Geneva, N.Y.), extending their lead to 2-0. The Knights applied pressure throughout the period, but Daemen's defense, highlighted by Schultz's steady goalkeeping, held firm as the Wildcats took the win.
THREE-PEAT
The ECC announced its major awards on Wednesday, with Miranto earning ECC Offensive Player of the Year for the third consecutive season. The senior finished the regular season with a league-leading 34 points and 14 goals, also tallying six assists (tied for third in the ECC). She led the league and the nation in game-winning goals (9), while falling in the top five nationally in goals and points. Miranto became the second player in ECC history to win a major award in three consecutive seasons.
ALL-CONFERENCE WILDCATS
The ECC also announced its all-conference teams on Thursday, with seven Wildcats getting recognized. Wright and Hansen joined Miranto on the first team. Kaitlin Mettler (Royalton, N.Y.), Ava Thompson (East Amherst, N.Y.), and Schultz were named to the second team. Nevada Hahn (Lancaster, N.Y.) rounded it out, grabbing a spot on the third team. This marks the second straight season and fourth time overall that the Wildcats have had seven all-conference selections, tying the program record once again.
ROOKIE RACKING UP
Hansen has started her college career strongly. She has logged 13 points with five goals and three assists, sitting third on the squad in goals and helpers. Hansen scored her first career postseason goal last game to put the Wildcats ahead 1-0. The freshman also found the back of the net in four different matches during the regular season. She notched her first career goal to help the Wildcats defeat St. Thomas Aquinas. Hansen also notched the game-winning goal in a 2-0 non-conference win over Roberts Wesleyan.
SUPER SCHULTZ
Schultz currently leads the ECC in saves (158), saves per game (9.29), and save percentage (.898). She finished the regular season ranking second nationally in saves and third in saves per game. The senior has recorded double-digit saves in 10 contests, including posting a season-high 13 stops on three occasions, against Assumption, St. Michael's, and Roberts Wesleyan. She recorded 12 stops in the first round victory over the Knights.
BACKLINE BOSSES
The Wildcats' backline has been led by Hahn and Thompson. Hahn leads the team in minutes (1,530) after starting all 17 matches in the regular season and playing the full 90 minutes in them. Thompson is second among field players in minutes (1,462), playing the full 90 minutes in 11 contests. Both players helped Daemen record shutouts against St. Thomas Aquinas, Roberts Wesleyan, Tiffin, D'Youville, and Staten Island. The Wildcats have also surrendered just 18 goals.
SCOUTING MERCY (13-2-2, 5-0-2 ECC)
Mercy earned the No. 1 seed after going unbeaten in ECC play during the regular season. The Mavericks ended the regular season with a 6-2 victory over D'Youville and are ranked No. 18 nationally in the United Soccer Coaches poll and are ranked No. 1 in the East Region. The Mavericks racked up a league-best 11 All-ECC selections and three major awards, including Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Coach of the Year.
SERIES HISTORY
Mercy leads the all-tie series, 12-3, but Daemen has won two of the previous three contests. The Mavericks narrowly defeated the Wildcats, 1-0 at Mercy Field during the regular season after scoring an early goal in the third minute. The Wildcats were without their top scorer Miranto during the match. This will be the fourth postseason meeting between the programs, with Daemen holding a 2-1 record in the previous contests. The Wildcats fell to Mavericks in the semifinals during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, but defeated Mercy in the 2023 semis by a 2-0 margin.
UP NEXT
If Daemen advances, it will play in the ECC final on Sunday, Nov. 16, taking on the winner of the other semifinal between No. 2 Molloy and No. 3 Roberts Wesleyan on the road.
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 University women's soccer program on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @DaemenWSOC.
