MATCH 5 – Daemen vs. St. Thomas Aquinas | Sept. 20 |  Amherst, N.Y. | Royal Park | 12 p.m.
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ECC PLAY BEGINS
The Daemen University women's soccer team opens East Coast Conference play Saturday, hosting St. Thomas Aquinas at 12 p.m. The Wildcats posted a 6-1 ECC record last season and reached the conference championship for the second consecutive year.

LAST TIME OUT
Daemen put on a strong showing in its final tune-up before conference action, defeating Bentley 3-1 on Tuesday. Kaitlyn Wright (Geneva, N.Y.) opened the scoring for the Wildcats with a goal in the 19th minute, assisted by Macayla Hansen (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), putting the home team ahead 1-0. Kylie Miranto (North Tonawanda, N.Y.) extended the Wildcats' lead to 2-0 with her first goal in the 38th minute, firing a shot past the Falcons' goalie off a pass from Victoria DiCarlo (North Tonawanda, N.Y.). Sydney DeRoche scored for Bentley, narrowing the gap to 2-1 with a quick goal just 31 seconds into the second half. Miranto then scored her second of the game in the 56th minute when Kaitlin Mettler (Royalton, N.Y.) played a through ball that got the senior free as she slotted a shot into the back of the net. Becca Schultz (Grand Island, N.Y.) made nine saves in the game,  including some crucial stops in each half. 

BACK TO BACK FOR BECCA 
Schultz was named the East Coast Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. This is the second straight ECC honor for Schultz after earning Defensive Player of the Week last week. She made nine saves in the win over Bentley on Tuesday. Schultz currently leads the East Coast Conference in saves (40) and is second in saves per game (10.00) and save percentage (.889).  She also ranks tied for third nationally in saves while sitting fourth in saves per game. Schultz has recorded two games with 13 saves this season, including the contest against Saint Michael's and the season opener against Assumption.

STARTING STRONG
Through the first four games, Miranto sits tied for first in the ECC in goals (4) and is second in points (9), having also logged one assist.  She is tied for first in the conference in shots (22) and shots on goal (10). She has recorded two-goal performances against Bentley and American International. Miranto's performance on Tuesday put her at 37 career goals, ranking third all-time in program history. She now has 88 career points, closing in on becoming the fourth player in program history to reach 100 career points.
 

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SCOUTING ST. THOMAS AQUINAS (0-5)
The Spartans have yet to win a game, but are coming off three straight 1-0 defeats, most recently at Adelphi on Tuesday. STAC also fell at Dominican and at Felician by the same margin. Madison Lepage has started three games between the pipes, posting a 2.52 goals-against average and a .774 save percentage.

SERIES HISTORY
Daemen leads the all-time series, 9-2-1, and has won the last five meetings. Last year, the Wildcats defeated the Spartans, 3-0, with two goals from Miranto and one from Chloé Cardone (Hilton, N.Y.). Miranto assisted Cardone's goal. Schultz stopped eight shots in the shutout.

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UP NEXT
The Wildcats continue ECC play at home on Wednesday, hosting Roberts Wesleyan at 6 p.m.

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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.