CANTON, Ohio — Daemen University defeated Malone University 3-1 on Saturday at Pioneer Park. The Wildcats secured the win with two second-half goals after the sides were tied 1-1 at halftime.

Larry Noel (Nassau, Bahamas) scored the game-winning goal for Daemen in the 62nd minute, giving the Wildcats a 2-1 lead. Rayane Baitiche (Thionville, France) dribbled down the field around a couple of defenders before playing a ball to Stevie Varallo (Wilson, N.Y.) in the center of the field. Varallo then passed to Noel, who danced around in the box before finishing a low shot.

Freshman Thomas Wikan (Inderøy, Norway) added insurance when he converted a penalty kick for his first career goal in the 74th minute, extending Daemen's lead to 3-1.

In the first, Malone pulled ahead 1-0 with a goal from Konstantinos Panagiotou in the 25th minute, finishing the rebound off a header that was saved.

Daemen quickly responded with junior Tim Florek (Marburg, Germany) finding the back of the net in the 30th minute, assisted by Jonathan Lopez-Leblanc (Centennial, Colo.) and Varallo, leveling the score at 1-1. The goal marked the first of Florek's career, with Varallo's assist being his first career point. Varallo played a pass to Florek inside the arc, and Florek then fired a shot that beat the goalie low.

The Wildcats had additional scoring chances in the opening half.  Varallo ripped a shot in the 15th minute that got stopped by the goalie. Daemen also had a corner and a free kick from about 10 yards outside the box that it could not convert. Goalkeeper Dylan Delaney (Lockport, N.Y.) made a key save in the 33rd minute to keep the match tied as the first half ended.

The second half began with both sides getting good looks that they could not put in, including Daemen shots from Florek and Axel Lozoya (Santa Fe, N.M.) that landed just wide.

The Wildcats also had an opportunity in the 87th minute when Selim Ozleplebici (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) got free on a breakaway, but was denied by the goalie.

Delaney made another huge save in the 86th minute, stopping the Pioneers on a one-on-one chance in the box. The freshman recorded three saves total in the game, facing 14 shots. Fellow freshman Varallo logged the Wildcat's first multi-assist game of the season with two helpers.

Daemen finished with 11 shots, including eight on goal, while holding the Pioneers to just four shots on goal.

The Wildcats are back on the road Wednesday, traveling to Vermont to battle St. Michael's at 3 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.

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