Oct. 9, 2006

DAYTON, Ohio - DAYTON, Ohio - An 0-3 conference start doesn't get any easier for the Dayton men's soccer team (4-7-0) that begins a four-game, two-weekend road trip Friday at Duquesne. The Dukes, winners of four of their last five, drilled nationally ranked Fordham 3-0 last weekend.

The Flyers then travel to St. Louis, where five Flyers played high school soccer, to battle the nationally ranked Saint Louis Billikens Sunday.

"For me this is it, and I'm going to do whatever it takes to prolong this season to Charlotte (site of the Atlantic 10 tournament)," said senior captain Ian Mulligan, a Flyer from St. Louis. "Right now, I am finding out who is coming with me. As a captain, I look around at the younger players and see who is still on board with the team's goals. I've had some good conversations with the a few of the guys to let them know that I am still here to win games and that anything can happen in the A-10."

Last year, the Flyers started 1-1-2 in the conference before winning four of their last five to finish a game out of first place. Two years ago, UD was just a game above .500 in the A-10 after five games and then went on a tear, winning five of their last six matches.

Besides playing in front of family and friends that don't get to see him play regularly, Mulligan said he is looking forward to getting another crack at Saint Louis. No Flyer squad has beaten the Billikens in 11 tries. Saint Louis eliminated UD from last year's A-10 tournament, 5-4 on penalty kicks.

Notes: Senior goalkeeper Nick Tarkany, from Miamisburg, is 21st in the nation in save percentage and first in the Atlantic 10. He is second in the A-10 in goals against average...Sophomore forward Caleb Lindemann ranks sixth or higher in seven A-10 offensive categories for all games. Lindemann is tied for second in goals with five.

UD-Duquesne Game Notes
Download Free Acrobat Reader