Women's Soccer | 9/4/2025 3:00:00 PM

Match 1: Daemen vs Assumption | Sept. 5 | 6 p.m. | Royal Park | Amherst, N.Y.
Live Stream and Links: FloCollege (Subscription Required) | Live Stats
Daemen Links: Roster | Schedule | Stats
Assumption Links: Roster | Schedule | Stats
 
Match 2: Daemen vs American International College | Sept. 7 | 11 a.m. | Royal Park | Amherst, N.Y.
Live Stream and Links: FloCollege (Subscription Required)| Live Stats
Daemen Links: Roster | Schedule | Stats
AIC Links: Roster | Schedule | Stats

---

A NEW SEASON AWAITS
The Daemen University women's soccer team opens its 2025 campaign at home, welcoming Assumption Friday at 6 p.m. and American International Sunday at 11 a.m. Friday's contest marks the first game at Daemen's new Royal Park. The Wildcats finished the 2024 season with a 9-9 record, including a 6-1 mark in the East Coast Conference, reaching the championship game for the second consecutive season. Assumption compiled a 7-5-6 record last season, including a 1-4-5 Northeast 10 mark. AIC finished 5-7-4, including a 1-5-4 mark in the NE 10.


RETURNING POWER
The Wildcats bring back 16 players from last year's squad, including nine who started at least one game. Daemen returns three ECC All-Conference selections, led by the back-to-back ECC Offensive Player of the Year, Kylie Maranto (North Tonawanda, N.Y. ). The senior was named ECC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year after leading the conference in goals (12) and points (30) in 2024. Nevada Hahn (Lancaster, N.Y.) helped lead the Wildcats' backline last season, earning Second Team All-ECC accolades. Goalkeeper Becca Schultz (Grand Island, N.Y.) joined Hahn on the second team after posting five shutouts, a 1.61 goals-against average, and a .842 save percentage while making a conference-leading 155 saves, also sitting second nationally.  Sophomore Kaitlyn Wright (Geneva, N.Y.) had an impressive rookie season, finishing tied for second on the squad in goals (4) after playing in all 18 games.

PRESEASON RANKS
Coming off back-to-back ECC championship game appearances, the Wildcats were picked second in the conference preseason poll. Daemen received 54 points, behind back-to-back ECC tournament champion Molloy (58 points, seven first-place votes).

NEW GROUNDS
The Wildcats will play all 10 home games at Daemen's new home soccer and lacrosse stadium, Royal Park Sports Complex. The squad opens the season with six straight home contests. Following this weekend, Daemen hosts St. Michael's Sept. 12, followed by Bentley Sept. 16. ECC play begins Sept. 20 against St. Thomas Aquinas, and the homestand concludes with a non-conference game against Roberts Wesleyan Sept. 24.

FRESH FACES
Seventeenth-year head coach Dan Dolan brought in nine newcomers to the squad this fall, hoping to step in for the 10 departures, including five starters, from last season.
 

---

SCOUTING ASSUMPTION:
The Greyhounds fell 2-0 to Franklin Pierce in the NE 10 Quarterfinals last season. Assumption's top returning scorer is sophomore Ava Normandin, who tallied three goals during her rookie season. Haley Brown registered three points (1G, 1A) while Natalie Matz found the back of the net twice. Sophomore Elle Bristol earned NE 10 All-Rookie honors, notching a goal and an assist after starting 17 of her 18 games. Isabella Provost is the Greyhound's lone returning goalkeeper. The senior has appeared in four games during her career.

SERIES HISTORY:
With only three prior meetings dating back to 2022, Assumption leads the series 2-0-1. Last season, Daemen fell 3-0 on the road in both teams' season opener after the Greyhounds netted all three goals in the second half. The Wildcats dropped a 2-0 decision at home during the 2023 campaign, and the two squads drew 2-2 in the inaugural meeting in 2022 at Assumption. 

 

---

SCOUTING AIC:
The Yellowjackets failed to qualify for the NE 10 tournament last season but return 2024 All-Rookie Team selection Nicole Kelly, who led the team with two goals. Senior Lily Shields posted four points (1G, 2A), while Katlin McDonald logged a goal and an assist. Junior Sara Avery started 13 of her 14 games between the pipes last season, logging a 1.27 goals-against average and a .750 save percentage.

SERIES HISTORY:                         
The two sides have met twice previously, with AIC having won both contests. The Yellowjackets picked up a 1-0 win in Springfield, Mass., last season and earned a 2-1 win in Amherst during the 2023 campaign.

---

UP NEXT:
The Wildcats continue their season-opening six-game homestand with a tilt against St. Michael's at 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 12, at Royal Park.

---

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.