AMHERST, N.Y. — Daemen (6-3, 1-0 ECC) dominated the University of the District of Columbia (0-6, 0-2 ECC) with a 25–3 victory in its ECC opener on Saturday at Royal Park. 

The Wildcats' offense was impressive, scoring nine goals in the first quarter alone, and maintaining consistent pressure throughout the game. The Firebirds managed to score just once in three separate quarters, struggling against Daemen's strong defensive efforts. 

IMPACT PLAYERS

• Adison Pollutro (West Seneca, N.Y.) led the Wildcats' offense with five goals, converting six of her seven shots on goal. 
• Marianna Szamoskozi (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) contributed four goals, with all five of her shots finding the target. 
• Sadie Schlesselman (Lancaster, N.Y.) tallied a game-winning goal and added three assists, impacting the scoring significantly. 
• Abbey Kamas (Horseheads, N.Y.) delivered a perfect shooting performance, scoring three goals on three shots.
• Goalies Mia Caryl (Marcellus, N.Y.) and Molly Evans (Fulton, N.Y.) each played 30 minutes, with Caryl making two saves and Evans stopping three shots.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Daemen opened the first quarter assertively, with Maria Salvo scoring the opening goal at 14:20. The home team maintained momentum with Shannen Calandra (Rome, N.Y.) adding another goal, assisted by Mikayla Myer (Geneva, N.Y.) at 13:23. Despite a response from UDC at 12:49, the Wildcats continued to dominate, with Myer, Schlesselman and Avery Castner (Penn Yan, N.Y.) each finding the net in a series of successful plays, making it 5–1 Wildcats. Pollutro capitalized on a woman-up opportunity, assisted by Schlesselman, increasing Daemen's lead. Avery Castner added another goal at 5:12, and Salvo closed the quarter with a goal at 00:39, assisted by Calandra. The quarter ended with the Wildcats leading  9–1.
• The second quarter started with a strong offensive sequence by Daemen, quickly scoring with Pollutro's goal at 14:35, assisted by Schlesselman. This was followed by Myer's goal at 13:45. Bouley facilitated momentum with two draw controls, leading to her own goal at 10:15. Castner extended the lead with a goal at 8:53, pushing the lead to 13-1. The Wildcats maintained control, with Szamoskozi adding to the tally at 2:10. The Firebirds managed a late goal by Keliah Tucker at 00:47. The quarter concluded with Daemen leading 14-2.
• The Wildcats dominated third quarter, scoring seven unanswered goals. Salvo initiated the run with a goal at 13:26, followed quickly by another from Szamoskozi. Pollutro scored twice, once assisted by Ava Smith (Hamburg, N.Y.) while playing woman-down, making it 18-2 Wildcats. Kamas and Gabby Bocketti (Kenmore, N.Y.) also contributed goals, with Bocketti converting a free position shot. Szamoskozi capped the quarter with another goal at 00:20. Evans made a key save on a shot by Tucker, maintaining a shutout for the quarter. The game concluded with Daemen ahead 21–2.
• In the fourth, Szamoskozi scored at 10:07, assisted by Smith. Kamas extended the lead with a goal at 7:46, assisted by Jenna Havert (Newark, N.Y.). Sam Branner (Ontario, N.Y.) then added another goal at 5:08. Kamas scored again with just nine seconds left in the game, capping off the quarter. The quarter ended with Daemen outscoring the Firebirds 4–1, concluding the game at 25–3.

GAME NOTES 

• Pollutro's five goals marked a career high. 
• Salvo posted four-plus points for the fourth straight game. 
•  Bocketti's goal and Branner's goal were the first of their careers. 
• Smith posted a season-high three assists.
• The Wildcats 25 goals are the most in a game in program history. 
• Daemen fired 42 shots, putting 37 on goal. 
• The Wildcats went a perfect 6-for-6 on clears.
• Daemen won 20 draw controls, led by Bouley's eight. 
• The Wildcats are now 4-0 all-time against UDC.

UP NEXT
Daemen is back on the road next Saturday, heading to Molloy for a 12 p.m. contest.

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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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