Nov. 16, 2008

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PITTSBURGH - In a swirling snow storm at Rooney Field the University of Dayton pulled off a 1-0 upset of top-seeded Massachusetts at the 2008 Atlantic 10 Men's Soccer Championship. The Flyers won the A-10 title for the first time since 1998. UD improved to 15-4-2 and broke a school record for single season victories.

"It's very emotional right now. We worked very hard all season. This group has been together since 2006 and we talked about winning championships and I am so proud of the guys today," said UD head coach Dennis Currier. "They battled so hard. I felt that they controlled the whole game and we just really fought hard there in the end to take the championship.

"I am really excited for the school and Ted Kissell and Tim Wabler because I know that they had the same vision and I am just excited for everyone right now," he added. "I also want to thank the fans. We had great fan support this weekend and it means a lot to the guys."

The lone goal of the match was scored in the 19th minute of the match. Junior Zach Weiss was credited with the score after a UMass defender headed the ball into his own net. It tied a UD team record for goals in a single season with 46, set in 1975.

"(Alex) Torda passed the ball back to me and I saw Frenchie (Florian DeCamps) making a curling run," said Weiss. "I just tried to clip it into Frenchie and sure enough it hits the defender's head and goes in the net. Then we celebrated!"

Dayton posted its seventh shutout of the season with the 1-0 victory over the Minutemen. The defense of Randy Dennis, Ryan Handbury, Jack Pearson and Tommy Watkins was a wall neutralizing the Minutemen's scoring threats. Freshman Tyler Picard had seven saves in goal, but it was Dennis who made the play of the match. After a long rebound off a Picard diving save, a UMass player drilled a shot at the empty net. Dennis was guarding the line and headed the ball over the top of the cross bar to preserve the shutout.

"It was all out of nowhere. It was instinct. I just reacted to it," said Dennis. "I was prepared to act. We were really focused in the back and it ended in a good way for the Flyers."

Four Flyers were named to the 2008 All-Championship Team, including senior forward Florian DeCamps who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. DeCamps scored three goals in the tournament, including two game-winners. Joining him on the team were junior defender Ryan Handbury, junior midfielder Ben Murray and senior forward Isaac Kissi.

With the win, the Flyers earn an automatic berth to the 50th NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship. The selections will be announced live on ESPNews, Monday, November 17, between 5:30 and 6 p.m. ET.