Oct. 22, 2004

DAYTON - Junior D Alicija Bredlo (Burlington, Ontario) scored her fourth game-winning goal of the season as the No. 27 University of Dayton women's soccer team defeated the University of Richmond, 2-1, at Baujan Field Friday night. The Flyers scored two unanswered goals to win their 15th-straight match, but more importantly secure the top-seed in the 2004 Atlantic 10 Conference Championship.

The win improved the Flyers to 15-1-0 overall and cemented UD's grip on first place at 8-0-0. The 15-straight victories ties a school record. The Spiders fell to 7-6-1, but will remain in second place at 5-3-0.

It was second-place Richmond that struck first in the 21st minute, stunning the Flyers' home crowd of 779. UD allowed the first goal for the second-straight match as junior F Annette Isham scored from 25 yards out with a lofted shot to beat UD goalkeeper Stacy DeLuca (Maryville, IL). Kelsey Blank was credited with the assist.

UD responded nine minutes later with the team-leading 11th goal of the season from junior F Reba Sedlacek (Hamilton, OH). After a Jen Simonetti (Copley, OH) corner kick was loose in the box, a shot was directed in traffic towards UR goalkeeper Kelly Kolker but saved on the line by a UR defensive player. The ball was then tipped in the air, deflected off the crossbar and headed back in by Sedlacek to equalize the match at 1-1 in the 29th minute.

The match went to halftime tied, although the Flyers held a commanding 16-2 advantage in shots and a 5-0 edge in corner kicks.

And it would be the Flyers' sixth corner kick that proved to be the difference-maker. In the 66th minute, another Simonetti corner kick found the foot of Bredlo in the box and the junior knocked it past Kolker to the give the Flyers their first lead. Of Bredlo's career-best five goals this season, four have been game-winners.

The UD defense would hang on and hold UR to just five shots on the night. DeLuca made three saves as she improved her record to 12-1-0. Kolker played well, making seven in the losing effort. Getting six each from Sedlacek and senior MF Tesia Kozlowski (Westerville, OH), the Flyers racked up 24 for the match.

The UD win, combined with a loss by Rhode Island, clinched the No. 1-seed for the Flyers in the tournament and also ensured UD at least a share of its conference-record eighth regular season title. A win Sunday over George Washington on Senior Day will guarantee the outright championship for Dayton. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.