Oct. 17, 2004

Box Score

DAYTON - The No. 28 University of Dayton women's soccer team got five unanswered goals from five different players in a 5-1 triumph over the University of Rhode Island Sunday afternoon at Baujan Field. The Flyers extended the nation's second-longest winning streak to 14 while widening the gap between them and the second-place Rams in the Atlantic 10 standings.

UD (14-1-0, 7-0-0) used its incredible scoring balance and quick-strike ability to net four second-half goals in the span of just 13 minutes. On the day, UD got all five goals and all five assists from different players.

The Rams (7-7-2, 4-1-2) owned the first 15 minutes of the match and scored first, with a goal from Debra Nelson in the ninth minute. Nelson took a pass through the middle of the field from Megan Kasparek and beat UD senior goalkeeper Stacy DeLuca (Maryville, IL) with a lofted shot from 18 yards out. The goal was the first surrendered by the Flyers this season in conference play and snapped a five-match shutout streak.

But after the initial surge by Rhody, it was Dayton who owned the balance of the match and entertained the crowd of 823 on the Flyers' first annual women's soccer alumni weekend.

Junior F Meghan Borysiak (Sylvania, OH) came off the bench and provided UD the momentum it needed heading to halftime with a goal to even the match at 1-1 in the 43rd minute. Borysiak scored her second of the season, blasting a shot from 12 yards out after taking a pass from senior MF Tesia Kozlowski (Westerville, OH).

The Flyers pulled ahead for good in the 57th minute as junior D Alicija Bredlo (Burlington, Ontario) scored the eventual game-winner with an assist from senior MF Jen Simonetti (Copley, OH). Bredlo headed in Simonetti's corner kick for her career-best fourth tally of the season.

Just six minutes later, freshman F Kristen Persichini (Hudson, OH) scored to make it 3-1. Persichini took a long, lofted pass from junior MF Katie Lowstuter up the far size, beat two defenders, dribbled and scored from 20 yards out to the far corner. It was the third goal of the season for the freshman and the team-leading ninth assist for Lowstuter.

In the 67th minute, UD struck again as junior F Reba Sedlacek (Hamilton, OH) made her case to be the A-10's Player of the Week. She scored her third goal of the weekend and 10th of the season, giving the Flyers insurance at 4-1. Sedlacek and freshman Natalia Walters (South Barrington, IL) hooked up on a combination play and the junior scored from 15 yards out to beat URI goalkeeper Ria Carroll.

Walters then capped the scoring for UD in the 70th minute as she scored her first career goal, after recording her first collegiate assist in Friday's win over Massachusetts. Walters took a long ball up from the middle of the field from freshman Courtney Sirmans (Centerville, OH), and scored in an empty net after Carroll came out to intercept the pass.

UD owned a decisive 21-8 advantage in shots, including an 11-1 edge in the second half. Of UD's 21 shots, 13 were on the frame, forcing Carroll to make eight saves. Kirsten Marra replaced Carroll in goal for the final 17 minutes of the match. Walters paced UD with five shots while Lowstuter collected four.

After the Rams initial surge, the defense clamped down to seal UD's first win over URI in three years. DeLuca needed to make just one save as she improved her record to 11-1-0.

The Flyers will return to action Friday night, hosting third-place Richmond at 7:30 p.m. George Washington will visit Baujan Field next Sunday at 1:00 p.m. on Senior Day.