Oct. 29, 2006 GALLERY

Box Score

Charlotte, NC - The University of Dayton women's soccer team dropped a heart-breaker to the Charlotte 49ers, 3-2 in double overtime on Sunday. The Flyers faced several setbacks during the course of the game, including playing most of the match one-woman down. Even with the disadvantage, UD continued to fight for the win, coming up short just three minutes away from a tie. The loss drops UD to 6-3 in the Atlantic 10, while Charlotte improves to 8-1.

The Flyers started on a sour note as sophomore Kim Sacher was given a red card inside the penalty box for a hand-ball in the third minute of the game. The foul led to a penalty kick by Charlotte's Lindsey Ozimek, who placed the ball in the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.

Despite playing a one-woman disadvantage, the Flyers struck back quickly. In the eighth minute, sophomore Annette Bonnaso sent a corner kick in for the Flyers to freshman Mandi Bäck who headed it to Kristen Persichini. Persichini, a junior from Hudson, Ohio then headed the ball past Charlotte goalkeeper Juli Black to tie the game at 1-1. The goal was Persichini's second of the season.

The Bonnaso-Persichini combination threatened to strike again in the 11th minute. Bonnaso sent a corner into Persichini, but her shot was saved by Charlotte. The Flyers and 49ers continued to battle on both ends of the field for the remainder of the first half. At half, the game was even in goals (1-1) and shots (4-4).

During the second half, neither team could get much offensive power going. Each coach attempted to create some different looks as they combined to make 13 substitutions during the first 15 minutes of the half. Charlotte also saw two scoring chances ruined by the goal post in the 70th and 75th minute.

However, the 49ers capitalized on their next scoring attempt. In the 76th minute, Brittany Dorsch was able to elude a Dayton defender and get a pass to Hailey Beam. Beam went one-on-one with Dayton keeper Niki Reed, who was unable to stop the shot, putting Charlotte up 2-1.

The Flyers came screeching back in the 82nd minute. Colleen Gibson sent a well-placed cross to freshman Mandi Bäck, who sent a header into the goal for a 2-2 tie. It was Bäck's seventh goal of the season and her fourth of the weekend. The score remained tied for the duration of regulation.

In the second overtime, Charlotte was able to secure the win as Charlotte's Kelsie Ormsby netted the game-winner in the 107th minute. For the game, the Flyers made 10 shots, all of them on goal. Goalkeeper Niki Reed made five saves off of eight shots on goal she faced from the 49ers.

The Flyers will travel to St. Louis to begin play in the Atlantic 10 tournament. The loss to Charlotte gives the Flyers a six seed for the conference tournament. UD will face Rhode Island on Thursday, at 5:00 p.m. CST at Robert R. Hermann Stadium. The Flyers won the previous meeting at Rhode Island 2-0 on October 8, 2006. The remaining seedings for the A-10 tournament are (1) Charlotte, (2) St. Louis, (3) Rhode Island, (4) La Salle, and (5) Fordham.