Oct. 31, 2008

Box Score

DAYTON, Ohio - Freshman Kelsey Owen scored the biggest goal of her young career with the golden goal that sent the University of Dayton women's soccer team to a 3-2 double overtime victory against Fordham Friday night at Baujan Field. In a battle for second place in the Atlantic 10 standings, the Flyers (13-5-1, 7-2-1 A-10) won out and now own the tiebreaker against the Rams (10-5-2, 7-2-1 A-10).

"We knew we had to come out and put one in the net. We wanted a bye so we knew what we had to do," said Owen referring to the first-round bye in the A-10 tournament for the No. 2 seed. "Luck just wasn't on our side at the beginning of the game. We hit the post two times in the first half. It feels good to score the game-winner but it was a team effort, not just me."

The Flyers needed the golden goal after allowing a late score by the Rams in the 86th minute of regulation by Kim Boulos (her ninth goal this season) to even the score at two goals for each team.

"I believe in them. We've pulled off a couple of late ones like this now during the season so I don't ever feel like we aren't capable of doing this," said UD Coach Mike Tucker. "It feels really good to stay composed and come back and get the win. It's huge in terms of seeding for this year's A-10 tournament."

Dayton was down 1-0 at the half, but came out blazing with two goals in the first six minutes of the second period. Sophomore Jerica DeWolfe, who came off the bench in the first half, scored just over a minute into the second stanza on an assist from freshman Emily Kenyon. Junior Mandi Bäck scored in the 51st minute to give the Flyers their first lead of the match on an assist from DeWolfe.

"At halftime we talked about how if we just came out with high energy and kept the ball on the ground we had a chance to put them under a lot of pressure and it did," said Tucker. "I want to see 90 minutes of attacking soccer on Sunday. If we can do that, I feel pretty good about our chances."

The Flyers had several opportunities in the first half. In the 23rd minute Bäck had a shot hit the crossbar and in the 25th, Owen hit one from the top of the box that keeper Elisabeth Roald got a hand on to push it over the top of the goal. The Flyers also had a shot go off the post late in the half. UD outshot Fordham, 10-5 in the first 45 minutes but only had two shots on goal.

Boulos scored her eighth goal of the season in the eighth minute, the only goal of the first half to give the Rams a 1-0 lead. She scored after a misplay in the box and on an assist from Mariella Romano.

Dayton hosts La Salle Sunday, Nov. 2 at Baujan Field at 1 p.m. The Flyers will celebrate their seniors before the match: Amanda Gallow, Kim Sacher, Deana Waintraub and Stephanie Wurth.

With a win over the Explorers Dayton would be guaranteed the No.2 seed in the A-10 Tournament held in St. Louis Nov. 6-9. It won't be an easy fight, however. La Salle (17 points) is on the brink of elimination from a tournament berth. They are battling Duquesne (17 points) and St. Bonaventure (16 points) - who compete against each other Sunday - for the final two spots in the six-team tournament.