AMHERST, N.Y. – Not one, not two, not three, but four straight wins for Daemen women's soccer – with the latest against a nationally-ranked program.
Behind three unanswered goals, Daemen women's soccer recorded their first-ever win against a nationally-ranked program with a 3-1 victory over No. 24 Molloy in an afternoon contest held at Karrer Field Saturday.
With the win today, Daemen women's soccer improved to 5-3-0, 4-0-0 in East Coast Conference play, have won their last four contests and are 5-1 in their six outings. This is their longest winning streak in program history since winning their first five contests of what turned out to be a historic 2019 season (11-4-3 overall.)
Molloy, who entered today's contest ranked No. 24 in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll released Sept. 28 falls to 7-2-0 and 3-1-0 in ECC play.
HIGHLIGHTS
- After over 20 minutes of scoreless play, Molloy found the back of the net first in Saturday's contest. Off an assist from their top play-maker, midfielder Lexi Verni, junior midfielder Annie Coogan scored in the 24th minute to give Molloy a 1-0 lead. The Lions' lead was erased in the 25th as Daemen's freshman defender Alyssa Diaz (Rochester, N.Y.) scored her third of the season off an assist from sophomore Brooke Amato (Grand Island, N.Y.) to tie the score at 1-1. Daemen found another scoring opportunity in the 36th minute when long-time veteran Katja Meyer (Verona, N.Y.) connected off a pass from sophomore Emily Mogavero (Buffalo, N.Y.) to give Daemen a 2-1 lead over Molloy heading into halftime.
- Daemen scored the final goal of the afternoon in the 54th minute when sophomore midfielder Demi McCalliog (Wolverhampton, England) connected off a pass from long-time veteran Sam Hanes (North Tonawanda, N.Y.) for the eventual 3-1 victory.
- Daemen outshot Molloy, 15-4, including six shots on goal in the contest. Molloy was held to just two shots overall in each half. Daemen also out-edged Molloy, 5-3, in corner kicks.
- Daemen had six shots on goal in today's victory. Along with the three goal scorers, Hanes, Tatyjana Scalisi (Williamsville, N.Y.) and Baylin Tighe (Tonawanda, N.Y.) all tallied one shot on net.
- Junior goalkeeper Tori DeLappi (Medina, Ohio) recorded three saves in her eighth consecutive start of the season. Today was also her seventh career victory in her 12th career start.
GAME NOTES
- Today was the first time Daemen defeated a ranked opponent during the regular season in what was their fifth all-time game in this category in program history. This marked the first time Daemen faced a ranked opponent during the regular season since a 3-1 road defeat at No. 10 St. Rose on Oct. 19, 2019.
- Today was the eighth all-time meeting between Daemen and Molloy and their first since the Lions defeated the Wildcats, 2-1, on October 14, 2019 in a contest held in Rockville Centre, N.Y. With the loss, Molloy now leads the all-time series, 5-3-0, since the series began in 2013. This was Daemen's first win the series since their 3-2 overtime victory on September 15, 2018.
- Today was the first goal for McCalliog while wearing the blue-and-white. In what was her fourth start, the sophomore previously recorded an assist in Daemen's 3-1 win over D'Youville on Sept. 18.
- By scoring in the 36th minute, Meyer scored her eighth career goal and her first since a two-goal performance in Daemen's 7-0 win over Nyack on Sept. 18, 2019. In what was also her 40th career start (59th career appearance), Meyer has now recorded 23 career points.
- By scoring in the 24th minute, Diaz now has three goals and two assists (eight career points.)
- Today marked the first career point and assist of Mogavero's career.
- In what was just her third appearance of the season, Amato recorded her first assist of the season and career with Daemen. Amato now has recorded 15 points in seven career appearances.
- In what was her 56th career game with Daemen, Hanes recorded her first point of the 2021 season by assisting on McCalliog's goal. This was also her first point of the 2021 season and her first since recording an assist in Daemen's 7-0 win at Lincoln (Pa.) on Nov. 2, 2019. Hanes has scored six career goals along with 18 points.
- Since senior midfielder Grace Stranahan (Grand Island, N.Y.) scored in the second half in a 3-1 loss at St. Anselm on Sept. 15, the Wildcats have outscored their opponents, 20-5.
- Today was the first time Daemen won a contest where they had not scored first in 2021. Daemen is now 1-3-0 in these games this season while their other four wins have come when scoring first.
- Daemen has now netted 22 goals from 10 different players and 12 players have recorded at least one point (team total of 59.)
- Daemen returns 17 players who were on the roster for the unorthodox 2020-21 academic year, including 10 who were part of the Wildcats' NCAA tournament team in 2019 when they finished 11-4-3 – the best season in the program's NCAA era (2015 – present.)
- This marked the eighth of a traditional 16-game schedule which runs through November 6.
ON THE HORIZON
Daemen continues their 2021 campaign when they host the Stonehill Skyhawks of the Northeast-10 in a non-conference contest on Thursday, Oct. 7 at 3 PM at Karrer Field. This marks the third game of a season-high five-game homestand at Karrer Field for Daemen women's soccer.
Daemen College features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 18 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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