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Daemen University Athletics

Western New York's Premier Division II Team
Fearless, Integrity, Effort, Respect, Commitment, Excitement
B_Schultz_ECC_Semifinals
Becca Schultz recorded her sixth shutout of the year
0
Mercy MERCY (9-5-3, 5-1-2)
2
Winner Daemen DAEMEN (9-4-3, 6-1-1)
Mercy MERCY
(9-5-3, 5-1-2)
0
Final
2
Daemen DAEMEN
(9-4-3, 6-1-1)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Mercy MERCY 0 0 0
Daemen DAEMEN 0 2 2

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | CONTACT: Tom McDermott, Director of Athletics Communications | tmcdermo@daemen.edu

Wildcats Get Past Mavericks In ECC Tournament Semifinal Match

Daemen Will Host Molloy In ECC Tournament Championship Game Sunday

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – The Daemen University women's soccer team secured its first-ever appearance in the East Coast Conference Championship title game following a 2-0 win over Mercy University in semifinal round action this afternoon at Williamsville South High School.

It marked the program's first post-season victory since it gained full NCAA Division II status in 2015. It was also the first time in program history the Wildcats have hosted an ECC Tournament game.

Turns out they will get to host another post-season game next weekend, as the second-seeded Wildcats (9-4-3) will host fourth-seeded Molloy University in the title game next Sunday (Nov. 12) at Williamsville South High School. Game time is to be determined. Molloy (10-4-5) advanced after upsetting top-seeded Roberts Wesleyan University, 1-0, in the other semifinal game today in Rochester, N.Y.

Today was sweet redemption for the Wildcats, who have been eliminated in the ECC Tournament semifinals by Mercy each of the last two seasons. Mercy also handed the Wildcats a 2-0 setback in the 2023 regular season finale last weekend at Mercy, which snapped Daemen's program record 11-match unbeaten streak. Mercy, the defending ECC Tournament champion and preseason favorite to win the league again this season, falls to 9-5-3 on the year and must await a possible at-large bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament.

Daemen posted a 4-1 win over Molloy earlier this year at Karrer Field. The ECC Tournament champion earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • A tightly played first half saw limited scoring chances, with the teams combining for just seven total shots.
  • Daemen broke the scoreless tie when senior Madita Zeitz (Malsch, Germany) converted a penalty kick just 3:49 into the second half. Daemen was awarded the kick after sophomore Kylie Miranto (North Tonawanda, N.Y.) was fouled inside the Mercy box.
  • Zeitz sent the kick into the upper right corner. She is now a perfect 3-for-3 on the year in penalty kicks.
  • Daemen doubled its lead just nine minutes later. Junior Ramone Trentin (São Leopoldo, Brazil) started the scoring chance with a strong play in the midfield. Miranto earned the initial assist, as she slotted a perfect pass to freshman Magda Carpenter (Lebanon, Conn.) on the left flank and Carpenter blasted a shot in from 20 yards outs.
  • Miranto had two solid scoring chances later in the half, but her low shots were tipped just wide by Mercy goalkeeper Kamy Anaya.
  • Mercy was awarded a penalty kick in the 81st minute, but Daemen sophomore netminder Becca Schultz (Grand Island, N.Y.) got a hand on the attempt by senior Jennifer Silva and the ball went over the crossbar and out of play.
  • The Daemen defense, led by juniors Alyssa Diaz (Rochester, N.Y.) and Baylin Tighe (Tonawanda, N.Y.), sophomore Nevada Hahn (Lancaster, N.Y.) and freshman Natalie Krelie (Bath, N.Y.) turned in a solid effort today after surrendering 26 shots in the loss at Mercy last weekend.
  • Both teams finished with 10 total shots and five shots on goal. 
  • Schultz posted five saves en route to her sixth shutout of the season. Anaya made three saves for the Mavericks.
GAME NOTES
  • Daemen snapped a five-game losing streak to Mercy and recorded just its second all-time win over the Mavericks. Mercy owns an 11-2-0 advantage in the all-time series.
  • Daemen entered the match scoreless in its three previous ECC Tournament games.
  • Miranto, the 2023 ECC Offensive Player of the Year, has now recorded a point in 11 of Daemen's 16 games. She has totaled a league-high 16 goals and 37 points and entered today's contest ranked third among all NCAA Division II players in goals per game (1.07) and fifth in points per game (2.40).
  • Her 16 goals rank as the fourth most in a season by a Daemen player in program history. Jamie Boyer netted a school record 20 in 2018. Her 37 points rank as the sixth most in a season by a Daemen player in program history.
  • Carpenter, the 2023 ECC Rookie of the Year, increased her season totals to six goals and 15 points.
  • Schultz has allowed just eight goals over the last 13 games and leads the ECC in save percentage (.877).
  • Daemen was making its third-straight and fourth overall appearance in the ECC Tournament. The Wildcats are looking for their first ECC Tournament title.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will host Molloy in the 2023 ECC Tournament championship game next Sunday (Nov. 12). The game will be played at Williamsville South High School.

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