By Peyton Johns, Sports Editor
Daemen Athletics had a very successful Spring semester.
Men’s Basketball:
The men’s basketball team had an outstanding season, continuing to build on their success as one of the top teams in the country.
Throughout February, the Wildcats remained ranked No. 4 nationally and continued their dominance in East Coast Conference (ECC) play. Their consistency on both ends of the court helped them complete a perfect 16-0 conference record, marking their second straight undefeated ECC season. This achievement extended their conference winning streak and further solidified their place at the top of the standings.
As the season progressed to March Madness, Daemen carried that momentum into the postseason. The Wildcats clinched the ECC Tournament title, adding another championship to their belts. Their strong defensive performances and balanced scoring played a major role in their continued success, as they consistently controlled games and limited opponents’ scoring opportunities.
During the NCAA Tournament, the Wildcats advanced through the regional rounds and earned a spot in the Elite Eight. This marked one of their greatest postseason runs in program history.
Despite a hard-fought effort, their season came to an end in the Elite Eight, concluding what had been a record-setting year for the program. They had many great achievements, such as junior guard Zach Philipkoski becoming the third player in program history to be named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) NCAA Division II Academic All-America Team, which is no small achievement.
Overall, the Wildcats’ season was defined by consistency, strong team play, and historic achievements, making it one of the most successful seasons in Daemen men’s basketball history.
Women’s Basketball:
The women’s basketball team won the ECC Conference title for the fifth straight year on March 8. After beating the Mercy Mavericks 73-68, the Wildcats qualified for the NCAA Tournament for their seventh straight season.
Continuing on March 13, Daemen defeated Felician University in the NCAA East Region Quarterfinals in New Haven, Conn. With this win, the women advanced to the East Region Semifinals for the third straight season and for the fourth time in the last five years. On March 14, the women advanced to the East Region Finals with their win over Bentley.
On March 16, the women’s season came to a crushing end against Holy Family during the Sweet 16 conference game with a 78-62 loss. Although this ended their season, the women had many notable achievements during the season, both as a team and as individual players.
Women’s Lacrosse:
On Feb. 28 the women’s lacrosse held their home opener against Findlay at Royal Park. Not only were they victorious 7-4 over the Oilers, but the women’s defense allowed no goals in both the second and third quarters: both impressive and hard to do. The Oilers were no match for Senior Defensemen Jenna Havart who fought hard for her goalie, Sophomore Molly Evans. The Wildcats’ win on Feb. 28 earned Evans ECC Goalie of the Week for a second time this season.
As of March 3, the Wildcats were 3-0. It was the first time in program history that they have started the season with three victories. They fought a tough battle, but they ultimately fell short 19-10 to Indiana University of Pennsylvania on March 4. March 7 brought the Wildcats to Ohio where Senior Ella Bouley broke the program record for goals (8) and points (10) in their game, helping the Wildcats earn a 21-15 win against Tiffin University, showcasing their offensive strength.
Continuing their momentum, Daemen earned a strong 18-8 victory over Gannon on March 11 at Royal Park. The Wildcats controlled the game from start to finish, scoring consistently in all four quarters and demonstrating their ability to dominate on both ends of the field.
On March 14, the Wildcats fought a hard battle but fell short against Franklin Pierce, 14-11. Two days later on March 16, they faced Southern New Hampshire, where they were defeated 22-9. Despite these setbacks, the team continued to compete and improve as the season progressed
Later in the month, Daemen earned a strong 12-10 win over Molloy on March 28 in a competitive ECC matchup, with a strong fourth quarter helping secure their victory. Moving into April, the Wildcats defeated D’Youville 16-9, showcasing their insane offensive consistency.
On April 25, the Wildcats closed out the regular season with a dominant 20-0 shutout victory over St. Thomas Aquinas on Senior Day. Not only did every senior who played score a goal, but the defense held STAC to just five total shots in the game. With this win, the Wildcats secured a spot in the ECC Championship and finished the regular season with strong momentum heading into postseason play
Overall, the Wildcats showed significant growth throughout the season, highlighted by a historic start, strong offensive performances, and key defensive efforts that contributed to multiple conference wins. Best of luck to them in the playoffs!
Photo taken on Feb. 28 at Royal Park, Findley at Daemen by Peyton Johns, Sports Editor
Men’s Tennis:
The men’s tennis team has faced a challenging season but they’ve continued to compete and improve throughout the spring.
Early in the season, the Wildcats battled through a tough stretch of matches, including a 5-2 loss to Bloomsburg on Feb. 6. Despite the loss, players continued to fight in both singles and doubles play, showing effort against strong competition.
The Wildcats continued to gain experience in close matches. On Feb. 21, Daemen competed against St. Lawrence, where they earned a doubles victory from Junior Lasse Mergens and Senior Rohan Chitanand, highlighting their talent despite the overall team result.
Moving into April, the Wildcats faced strong conference opponents. On April 11, they were defeated by STAC, who won all of the matches on that day.
The Wildcats closed out their regular season on April 18 in a close 4-3 match against the University of the District of Columbia. Daemen secured the doubles point by winning two of three matches, including a strong performance from the No. 1 doubles team. However, the Firebirds ultimately were victorious in singles play, ending the Wildcats’ season in a fiery finish.
Overall, the Wildcats showed determination throughout the season, competing in several close matches and continuing to develop as a team against strong opponents.
Women’s Tennis:
The women’s tennis team competed in several matches throughout the spring, continuing to build experience against strong competition.
On Feb. 14, the Wildcats opened their spring season at home against West Liberty, falling 6-1. Despite the loss, Senior Carly Armitage earned the team’s lone point with a strong singles victory.
The Wildcats continued their season into March, facing tough non-conference opponents and working to improve in both singles and doubles play. Although results did not always end in their favor, the team continued to compete and gain valuable experience on the court.
Moving into April, Daemen faced conference opponents in East Coast Conference play. The Wildcats battled through multiple matches, showing admirable effort and determination in close contests. While they came up short in several matchups, they continued to passionately fight in individual sets and doubles play.
Men’s Track & Field:
The men’s track and field team competed in several meets throughout the spring, continuing to build on a strong indoor season.
In Feb., the Wildcats competed at the East Coast Conference Indoor Championships, where they had a strong showing. The team earned three gold medals, highlighting their success at the conference level.
As the season transitioned into outdoor competition, the Wildcats opened their spring season on April 3 at the Charleston Golden Eagle Invitational in W.Va. The meet marked the beginning of their outdoor season.
Throughout April, the Wildcats continued to compete in multiple meets, facing strong competition and gaining experience in a variety of events. Returning players such as senior Adam Kamagate, junior CJ Johnson, and junior Ethan Keating played key roles for the team, building on their previous successes and contributing in their respective events.
The Wildcats showed steady progress throughout the spring season, highlighted by strong performances at the conference championships and continued development during the outdoor season.
Women’s Track & Field:
In Feb., the Wildcats competed in the East Coast Conference Indoor Championships, where they recorded 14 top-10 finishes, including five top-five results. These performances highlighted the team’s depth across multiple events and set the tone for the remainder of the season.
As the season transitioned into outdoor competition, the Wildcats opened their spring season on April 3 at the Charleston Golden Eagle Invitational in W.Va. This meet marked the start of their outdoor campaign as they looked to carry over momentum from their indoor success.
Throughout April, the Wildcats continued to compete in multiple meets, gaining experience across a variety of events. The team showed strength in both track and field events, with several athletes contributing solid performances as they prepared for the postseason.
Men’s Volleyball:
The men’s volleyball team competed in a full spring schedule, showing improvement as the season progressed. In early Feb., the Wildcats picked up key wins, including a five-set victory over Roberts Wesleyan on Feb. 3 and a straight-set win over Northern Ky. on Feb. 7. They continued their momentum on Feb. 15 with a 3-0 win over American International, highlighting their strong offensive play.
In March, the Wildcats stayed consistent with wins over D’Youville on March 3 and March 5. They followed that with another victory over Judson on Mar. 7, continuing to build momentum. Later in the month, Daemen earned two more wins over the University of Maryland Eastern Shore on March 27 and 28, showcasing their ability to compete in back-to-back matches.
In April, the Wildcats faced strong competition, including matches against Fairleigh Dickinson and LIU. Despite falling in several of these contests, they ended the season on a high note with a five-set win over LIU on April 11 during their Senior night to close out their regular season.