DAYTON, Ohio - The University of Dayton men's soccer team is back in the national spotlight after two tremendous shutouts over nationally-ranked Charlotte (3-0) and perennial power Saint Louis (1-0). No. 23 UD hosts Xavier this Friday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. ET at Baujan Field, and with a win the Flyers could clinch a share of the 2009 Atlantic 10 Regular Season title. Dayton, currently leading the A-10 standings, has to travel to Olean, N.Y. for a makeup game against St. Bonaventure this Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m.
THE SERIES
• Dayton leads the all-time series 18-16-2 against Xavier; however the Flyers have not beaten the Musketeers the past three seasons. The UD seniors have not experienced a win against Xavier in their careers. Last year XU won 1-0 on Nov. 8, 2008 costing UD a first round bye in the A-10 Tournament. In the 2007 the squads fought to a 0-0 tie and in 2006 Xavier edged Dayton, 2-1.
• The Flyers lead the Bonnies 8-3 in the all-time series. The last time they met was in 2005 when the Flyers won 2-0 on Oct. 21. UD was in the midst of a nine-game unbeaten streak at the time of the match against St. Bonaventure.
THE FLYERS
• The Flyers are 11-4-1, including 7-1-0 at Baujan Field. They are atop the A-10 standings with a 6-1-0 conference record.
• Dayton is ranked in several polls after its upsets of Charlotte and Saint Louis. In addition to holding the No. 1 spot in the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Rankings the Flyers are; No. 23 in the NSCAA; No. 15 in the TopDrawerSoccer Tournament 48 Rankings; No. 30 in College Soccer News. UD is also receiving votes in the College Soccer Times Top 25 Poll.
• UD has allowed just two goals against A-10 opponents this season, and has outscored them 13-2 after seven games.
• Dayton dealt No. 11 Charlotte (4-1-2) its only loss in A-10 play and shut out the 49ers, only their second of the season. The Flyers scored three goals against the 49ers. Only South Carolina scored as many against Charlotte.
• Senior Isaac Kissi leads the Flyers with 20 points (8g, 4a).
• Tyler Picard has started the last seven games in goal for the Flyers, posting five shutouts in A-10 play. He is 6-3-0 with 38 saves and a 1.09 GAA. While he was injured, freshman Josh Lavallee stepped up and played in eight games with seven starts, notching 36 saves, a 0.94 GAA and a 5-1-1 record.
SCOUTING THE MUSKETEERS
• Xavier is 2-12-1 overall and with a 1-7-0 Atlantic 10 record has been eliminated from contention for the A-10 Tournament, where the top six teams advance to Kingston, R.I. Nov. 12-15 to play for the tournament title.
• Senior Jake Vollmer leads XU with nine points (4 g, 1 a). Junior Andy Dimbi leads the team in assists with four.
• Xavier has used three goalkeepers this season. Justin Marshall leads the way with 740 minutes played, a 1.70 GAA and 43 saves.
• The Musketeers are on a six-game losing streak; their last win a 3-2 overtime victory against Rhode Island on Oct. 11.
SCOUTING THE BONNIES
• St. Bonaventure is 9-6-0 overall and 5-2-0 in the Atlantic 10. They are currently tied for third place in the A-10 standings.
• Senior Sam Maheu leads the Bonnies with 27 points (10 g, 7 a). He leads the A-10 in points, goals and assists. His 1.77 points per game is 11th in the nation.
• Junior goalkeeper David Flynn has a 1.20 GAA with 56 saves and five shutouts for the Bonnies.
• St. Bonaventure ranks eighth in the Mid-Atlantic Region in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) ninth weekly poll. It is the third national ranking in the program's history. The last time the Bonnies were ranked was in 2004 when St. Bonaventure was tied for 25th in the NSCAA/adidas Top 25 poll.
UP NEXT
The Flyers have earned a berth to the Atlantic 10 Tournament in Kingston, R.I. to be held Nov. 12-15. The seeding for the six-team tournament will be announced Sunday evening.
FOR ASSISTANCE, PLEASE DIAL THE FLYERS
Senior Ryan Handbury is tied for first in the Atlantic 10 with seven assists. The Flyers are tied for first in the A-10 in team stats with 33 assists (2.06 per game).
GETTING OFFENSIVE & DEFENSIVE
The Flyers are ranked 26th in scoring offense (1.88 goals per game) in the latest NCAA Men's Soccer National Ranking Summary. UD is ranked 40th in the nation in shutout percentage (.43).
THE HAND'BURY' THAT FEEDS YOU
Senior Ryan Handbury is having a stellar year dishing out assists this season. The defenseman has a team-high seven helpers, more than double the total assists of his last three years combined (one in 2006, none in 2007 and two in 2008). He has also played every minute of every match in UD's last 57 games.
PICARD PACKS A PUNCH
Sophomore goalkeeper Tyler Picard was named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Week, and also picked up national kudos from TopDrawerSoccer and College Soccer News, after his performances against No. 11 Charlotte and Saint Louis. The 6-foot-2 keeper posted back-to-back shutouts. He made a game-changing play against the 49ers, saving a penalty kick in the 27th minute to help UD keep a 1-0 lead. He went on to make three saves in that match. Picard posted five saves against SLU to help Dayton (11-4-1, 6-1-0 A-10) move to first in the Atlantic 10 standings. If you think this sounds familiar, there is a very good reason. This marks the second consecutive season he has came up big against Charlotte and the Billikens. Last year, as a freshman, Picard recorded a season-high eight saves in a 0-0 double overtime tie against nationally-ranked Charlotte (Oct. 17) and posted three saves to help the Flyers upset No. 15 Saint Louis 1-0 (Oct. 19); the first time UD had ever beaten SLU. He was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week and selected to the College Soccer New National and Top Drawer Soccer Men's College Teams of the Week for his efforts. His 0.97 GAA in 2008 is second-best all-time in Dayton history.
KISSI TO SUCCESS
Senior Isaac Kissi leads the Flyers with 20 points. His 2.79 shots per game are eighth in the Atlantic 10. He is tied for third in the conference for goals scored (8). Kissi is also tied for third in the Atlantic 10 in points per game (1.43). His 1.43 points per game is ranked 28th and his .54 goals per game are ranked 32nd in the latest NCAA National Ranking Summary. He scored his first collegiate hat trick in a 4-0 win over Rhode Island in Dayton's A-10 opener on Oct. 9. Kissi took Co-Player of the Week honors, and was also named to the TopDrawerSoccer Men's College Team of the Week for Oct. 11.
STREAKING
The Flyers recently had an eight-game winning streak snapped by Richmond (Oct. 23). The Flyers in turn broke No. 11 Charlotte's 13-game unbeaten streak. Dayton is 11-4-1 to start the 2009 campaign after opening the season 0-3-1. Last year the Flyers started the season 2-2-1 before going on a school-record, 10-game unbeaten streak.
BAUJAN IS BEST
Since 1992 the Flyers have excelled at Baujan Field with a 106-35-11 record. Last season UD went 9-0-0 at home. The Flyers had an unbeaten streak that lasted nearly three years. From Oct. 28, 2006 to Sept. 1, 2009 UD was unbeaten in 20 games and had a 17-0-3 record at home. The Flyers are 7-1 at home this season.
DAYTON'S SOCCER HISTORY
This is the 53rd season of Dayton Flyers men's soccer. UD showcases an all-time record of 408-355-62 (.530). The Flyers have had a winning record in 11 of the last 13 seasons. Head coach Dennis Currier captured his 42nd win at Dayton in 2008, making him the fourth winningest men's soccer coach at UD. Now with 53 UD wins, he is the third all-time winningest coach at Dayton. He needs four more wins to catch his predecessor Dave Schureck (57 wins from 2000-2004).
THREE OF A KIND
The Flyers are 25-0-1 when scoring three or more goals in Coach Dennis Currier's tenure, including 7-0-1 in eight games during 2008, and five times this season; besting Bowling Green 4-3 on Sept 18, SIU Edwardsville 3-0 on Sept. 25, Alabama A&M 3-0 on Sept. 30, Rhode Island 4-0 in their A-10 opener (Oct. 9) and most recently 3-0 over No. 11 Charlotte (Oct. 30).
PRESEASON PICKINGS
Dayton was tabbed to defend its Atlantic 10 Men's Soccer Championship in voting conducted by the league's head coaches. The Flyers seek to build upon a record-setting 2008 season which included a program-best 15 victories, a record-tying 46 goals scored, a third A-10 Championship title and a first-ever appearance in the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship.
