April 16, 2005

The Dayton men's soccer team was edged 2-1 by the two-time defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers Friday night in Indianapolis, IN. Playing as a part of a fundraiser for the Urban Soccer League in Indiana, the Flyers battled with the Hoosiers for 90 minutes of play in front of a crowd of an estimated 3,000 at Kuntz field in Indianapolis.

The Flyer defense, led by junior Nate Darr was solid for 78 minutes until a free-kick by Dayton was deflected by an IU player, who found teammate Brian Plotkin on a breakaway. Plotkin then put his shot in the upper 90 corner to give the Hoosiers a 1-0 lead with 11:27 left in the game.

Dayton would soon answer as junior Omar Jarun, who saw little action due to a hamstring tear suffered only a few weeks ago, blasted in header with 5:42 remaining in the game on a corner-kick served by sophomore Antti Arst.

As the clock neared 1:30 minute remaining, the Flyers made a crucial mistake turning the ball over to IU. The Hoosiers countered by sending a ball outside and putting in a cross that in a scramble found Plotkin of the Hoosiers who put the ball off the cross-bar and in, giving him his second goal of the match with only 56 ticks remaining in the game, giving Dayton a heartbreaking 2-1 loss.

The Flyers are 2-3-1 in spring play, an unbeaten in their previous three matches before falling Friday. Dayton hosts Akron on Sunday, April 24 at Baujan Field