Nov. 5, 2004

AMHERST, MA - The No. 20 University of Dayton women's soccer team advanced to the finals of the Atlantic 10 Championship with a 2-1 win over Saint Joseph's Friday afternoon in Amherst, MA. With the victory, the Flyers (19-1-0) extended the nation's longest winning streak to 19 and set a new school record for wins. Top-seeded UD will face second-seeded Rhode Island Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET.

The Flyers, who dominated the first half of play, took a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute on a goal from junior F Reba Sedlacek (Hamilton, OH). Sedlacek, the Flyers' leading scorer and the Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year, scored her 14th goal of the season with an assist from freshman D Courtney Sirmans (Centerville, OH). Sirmans played a long cross up the far side to Sedlacek, who volleyed it past SJU goalkeeper Nicole Dienna from 12 yards out.

"I just anticipated the pass from Courtney (Sirmans)," said Sedlacek. "She played it right to my feet and I just tried to touch it past the keeper."

On a blustery and chilly afternoon with on-and-off rain showers, the Flyers took the 1-0 lead into halftime and outshot the Hawks 9-1 in the first half.

UD extended its advantage to 2-0 in the 57th minute with the fourth goal of the season from senior MF Tesia Kozlowski (Westerville, OH). Senior MF Jen Simonetti (Copley, OH) and Sirmans were credited with the assists on what would prove to be the game-winning goal. Simonetti, the A-10 Defensive Player of the Year, started the play with a corner kick to Sirmans. Sirmans header deflected off the post to a wide-open Kozlowski who pounded the ball home from close range.

But the Hawks would not go quietly. After playing the Flyers tough during the regular season (a game in which UD needed to win in double overtime), SJU would get new life in the 78th minute as Ali Wean netted her team-leading fifth goal of the season. With her back to the goal, Wean took a pass from Alisha Paine, spun and hit a shot from 15 yards to left upper 90.

The Hawks (9-11-1), playing in their second consecutive A-10 Championship, earned the fourth-seed by ending the regular season with three straight wins. They extended that streak to four with the team's first-ever postseason win, beating La Salle 1-0 in a physical quarterfinal match Thursday.

But the UD defense, which has been rock solid all season, held off the late charge by SJU to ensure the Flyers their seventh appearance in the A-10 title game (UD has won it four times). Senior GK Stacy DeLuca (Maryville, IL), named a First Team All-Conference performer, finished with just one save en route to her first career postseason victory.

"There is not one player on this team you can single out," said Sedlacek. "It is all 11 players on the field and everyone on the bench who play hard every game and every practice. Our goal all season has been to play with more heart than the other team. We have done it and we're not even close to being finished."

UD owned a 13-5 advantage in shots for the match and out-cornered SJU 4-1. Kozlowski paced the offense with four shots.