Oct. 31, 2004

PHILADELPHIA - The No. 22 University of Dayton women's soccer team tied a school record for wins by holding off La Salle University, 1-0, in the regular season finale for both teams Sunday in Philadelphia. The Flyers (18-1-0, 11-0-0) used an early goal from freshman Natalia Walters (South Barrington, IL) and their 12th shutout to extend the nation's longest winning streak to 18 matches.

Walters netted her third goal of the season just under five minutes into the match and it would hold up for her second game-winner. The freshman took a pass from junior F Reba Sedlacek (Hamilton, OH), and drilled a low, line drive to the far corner past LU goalkeeper Kerry Schamberger from 12 yards out.

The tally was the lone error for Schamberger who played brilliantly in net for the Explorers (10-6-2, 6-5-0). The senior made 10 saves, including a number of diving stops and point-blank save on header by freshman Courtney Sirmas (Centerville, OH) midway through the second half.

The match had all the makings of a low-scoring, one-goal affair as UD and LU were ranked first and third, respectively, in team defense in the A-10 and each had notable winning streaks entering the match. The Explorers' late-season, five-match win streak helped them climb from ninth-place into an A-10 Championship berth.

But the UD defense played tough in front of senior GK Stacy DeLuca (Maryville, IL) once again. The senior came up big with eight big saves en route to her career-best eighth shutout this season and improved her record to 15-1-0. The eight shutouts by DeLuca is the third-best single-season mark in school history.

UD outshot LU 16-12, including a 9-6 edge in the first half.

For the regular season, the Flyers have allowed nine goals (just three coming in conference play). With 12 shutouts this season, UD ties a single-season school record and is on pace to set the record for least goals allowed in one season (14 in 2002) and fewest losses in one season (3 in 1992 and 1989).

UD will look to defend its 2003 tournament title and have the top-seed and a first-round bye in the 2004 A-10 Championship, which begins Thursday at the University of Massachusetts. The Flyers will play Friday at 11:00 a.m. ET versus the lowest seed after Thursday's first-round matches. Rhode Island, which has the second-seed and the other first-round bye, will play the higher remaining seed Friday at 1:00 p.m.

Thursday's first round is set with #3 Richmond playing #6 Massachusetts at 11:00 a.m. followed by #4 Saint Joseph's vs. #5 La Salle at 1:00 p.m. Sunday's championship match is set for 1:00 p.m.