Oct. 24, 2004

DAYTON -- The No. 27 University of Dayton women's soccer team capped off its Senior Day by extending the nation's longest winning streak to 16 matches with a 3-0 win over George Washington University Sunday afternoon. The Flyers used three goals from three different players and first-half penalty kick save by senior GK Stacy DeLuca (Maryville, IL) to improve to 16-1-0 overall, 9-0-0 in the Atlantic 10 and win its 11th game via shutout.

Following the Senior Day ceremony which recognized the Flyers' five graduating seniors - DeLuca, Tesia Kozlowski (Westerville, OH), Amanda Kuntz (Vandalia, OH), Leah Phelps (Cincinnati, OH) and Jen Simonetti (Copley, OH) - UD jumped on GW quickly, scoring in the 22nd minute. Freshman F Natalia Walters (South Barrington, IL) netted her second goal of the season with a diving header from close range. Juniors Reba Sedlacek (Hamilton, OH) and Katie Lowstuter (Cincinnati, OH) had assists on what would prove to be the game-winning tally.

The match's momentum was nearly equalized just three minutes following the Flyers' goal as UD was whistled for a foul in the box against GW's Sarah Sample. Sample drilled the PK to her right, but DeLuca's spectacular diving save kept the Flyers on top and the momentum on UD's side.

UD would take the 1-0 lead to the half after outshooting GW 16-2 in the first 45 minutes.

But the Flyers have been a second-half team all season and it held true Sunday, tacking on two more insurance goals to seal the victory and ensure the A-10 Regular Season Championship would belong solely to Dayton. In the 65th minute, Lowstuter blasted a free kick from 25 yards out to left upper 90. The shot, which grazed off the back of GW defender, was the fourth goal of the season for Lowstuter.

In the 80th minute, freshman Courtney Sirmans (Centerville, OH) finished off one of UD's seven corner kicks for her fifth goal of the year. Kozlowski started the play with a corner kick that found freshman Kristen Persichini (Hudson, OH), she deflected it to Sirmans who was in alone and scored from close range past GW goalkeeper Anna Handzlik. The assists were credited to Kozlowski, who now has 27 for her career and is one shy of the all-time UD record, and Persichini.

Of UD's 39 goals this season, 23 have come in the second half.

Handzlik was aided all game long by her defense, which blocked five UD shots and accounted for four team saves. Handzlik was also collected five saves against a UD offense that owned a 27-6 advantage in shots. Lowstuter racked up a team-high seven shots while Walters took five for UD.

DeLuca played the first half with one save and Kuntz played the second, making three stops. The duo combined for UD's 11th shutout this season, which leads the A-10 while its shutout percentage (65 percent) is ranked third nationally.

The Flyers will return to action next weekend in the final regular season contests of the season. Friday night, UD travels to Fordham for a 2:00 p.m. ET game against the Rams. Sunday's regular season finale at La Salle begins at 1:00 p.m. ET. A pair of victories next week will give the Flyers 18 wins and tie a school record.