Match 9: Daemen vs Mercy | Sept. 26  | 11 a.m. | Royal Park | Amherst, N.Y.
Live Stream and Links: Watch on FloCollege (subscription required) | Live Stats
Daemen Links: Roster | Schedule | Stats
Mercy Links: Roster | Schedule | Stats
 

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BACK HOME
The Daemen women's soccer team (1-6-1, 0-1 ECC) returns home for the first time in four games, welcoming Mercy on Saturday for an 11 a.m. contest. The game is in conjunction with Daemen's Founders Celebration and Fall Fest.

LAST TIME OUT
The Wildcats fell 4-1 at AIC in a non-conference tilt on Tuesday. Lily Macfarlane (Murcott, England) notched Daemen's goal in the 18th minute, making it 2-1. Earlier, Macfarlane put the Wildcats' first shot on goal in the fourth minute, but it was saved. Ava Thompson (East Amherst, N.Y.) and Casey Keller (Rochester, N.Y.) each forced saves later in the half. Daemen added more shots between the 50th and 59th minutes, including saved attempts by Macayla Hansen (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Kaitlin Mettler (Royalton, N.Y.), Victoria DiCarlo (North Tonawanda, N.Y.), and Mia Wright (Liverpool, N.Y.). Goalie Rylee Kumer (Ambridge, Pa.) recorded seven saves in 90 minutes. Last Saturday, Daemen dropped its ECC opener at Molloy, 3-0, after the Lions scored all three goals in the second half.  The Wildcats had first-half chances from Thompson and Taylor Fiegel (Lockport, N.Y.), but both attempts were saved. Daemen kept Molloy scoreless in the second half, with Rylee Kumer (Ambridge, Pa.) making three saves. She finished with eight saves in 90 minutes.

CAREER FIRSTS
Several Wildcats have logged their first career goals this season. Freshman Aliyah Hien (Kenmore, Wash.), Bridey McKenzie (Amherst, N.Y.), and Zainab Khalid (Penfield, N.Y.) scored their first career goals in the victory over Post University on Sept. 4. Wright netted her first career goal against #17 Bentely. Mia Dickens (Boise, Idaho) notched her first point with an assist against Post.

MAKING THE SAVES
Kumer has made 56 saves thus far, leading the ECC and ranking seventh nationally. The junior is averaging 7.00 saves per game, ranking third in the conference and tied for 17th nationally. She stopped eight shots against Molloy and made seven saves against AIC. Kumer logged a career-high 12 saves against Saint Anselm and registered 11 saves at #17 Mercy. Kumer stopped five shots against Tiffin and two in the win over Post. She also made eight stops in the season opener against Malone.

SCHEDULE OUTLOOK
The Wildcats will play 16 games this season, including eight at home and eight on the road. Following this weekend, Daemen hosts rival D'Youville next Wednesday, then heads to CSI on Saturday, Oct. 3, and Roberts Wesleyan on Oct. 7. The Wildcats return home to host Queens on Oct. 10 before welcoming Franklin Pierce for a non-conference match on Oct. 14. It's then back-to-back road contests to wrap up the season with a non-ECC game at D'Youville on Oct. 21 and a trip to St. Thomas Aquinas on Oct. 24.

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SCOUTING MERCY (4-2-3, 1-0 ECC)
The Mavericks are coming off a 1-1 tie at Southern New Hampshire on Wednesday. Mercy defeated St.Thomas Aquinas 7-0 in their ECC opener last Saturday. The Mavericks have also defeated Dominican (N.Y.) 4-2, Goldey-Beacom 4-2, and Edinboro 2-0. Astrid Borglund leads the team in goals (5) and points (10).  Connor Leahy is second on the squad with seven points, having two goals and three assists.  Leahy and Blake Goldstein share the team lead in assists. Hailey Metzger has recorded six points with two goals and two assists. Goalie Heiddis Sigurdardottir has started six of Mercy's seven games, logging a 2-1-2 record, a .714 save percentage, and a 1.09 goals-against average.

SERIES HISTORY
Mercy leads all-time series, 13-3. The teams have split the last four meetings 2-2. Last year, Mercy ended the Wildcats' season with a 4-1 win in the ECC Championship semifinals. The Mavericks also won the 2025 regular-season meeting, 1-0. Daemen won the 2024 regular-season meeting 1-0 and defeated the Mavericks 2-0 in the 2023 ECC semifinals.

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UP NEXT
Daemen hosts crosstown rival D'Youville in an ECC clash on Wednesday. Opening kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. at Royal Park.

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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 women's soccer program on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @DaemenWSOC.