Nov. 7, 2004

AMHERST, MA - Senior MF Tesia Kozlowski (Westerville, OH) scored with 1:25 left in the first overtime to lead the 20th-ranked University of Dayton women's soccer team past the University of Rhode Island, 1-0, in the finals of the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship. The Flyers (20-1-0) extended the nation's longest winning streak to 20 matches and clinched their fifth tournament title.

In a match dominated by defense, both goalkeepers came up big all afternoon. But it was Kozlowski, who wears jersey No. 20 that helped No. 20 Dayton reach its 20th win of the season. The Championship's Most Outstanding Player, Kozlowski rocketed home a pass in the 99th minute for her fifth goal of the season and fourth game-winner, helping the top-seeded Flyers clinch the A-10's automatic berth to the NCAA Championship - their fourth consecutive NCAA appearance and fifth in six years. The senior is the Flyers' all-time leader in A-10 tournament scoring with 14 points on six goals, two assists and two game-winners.

"You expect seniors to come up big in games like this and Tesia did," said UD head coach Mike Tucker. "She is a big-time player and she got herself in the right place at the right time. She had a couple good looks early in the game and her persistence finally paid off."

Senior D Jen Simonetti (Copley, OH) and freshman D Courtney Sirmans each were credited with assists on the game-winning tally. Simonetti started the play with UD's sixth corner kick of the match. It found Sirmans at the far post and she headed it to Kozlowski fired it past URI goalkeeper Ria Carroll.

"Jen played a great ball in and Courtney was able to redirect it with her head," said Kozlowski. "I was a in a good position in front of the goal and volleyed it."

The teams took a scoreless tie into halftime and overtime, although the Flyers outshot the second-seeded Rams 18-5. But regulation was a story of both keepers as Carroll came up with 12 saves while senior GK Stacy DeLuca (Maryville, IL) had three big stops to keep the match scoreless.

"I have to give my team credit because we battled so hard all day." said Kozlowski. "I thought we played them even in the first half, but we really stepped up our pressure in the second half and I had a great feeling going to overtime."

The 60th minute saw URI (11-9-2) have one of its best chances of the game, but DeLuca came up with a save on a shot by Claire Landon. Landon got free on the left flank with a pass from Megan Kasparek and struck a shot to the far post. DeLuca dove to her left and reeled in the stop.

With just over four minutes remaining, UD had one of its better chances as junior MF Katie Lowstuter (Cincinnati, OH) dribbled hard at the defense, got the endline and crossed it to freshman F Dara Elk (Dumfries, VA). Elk's point-blank shot at the near post was stopped with a diving save by Carroll.

In the opening two minutes of the first overtime, a shot by UD junior MF Laura Boland (Hudson, OH) was tipped over the crossbar by Carroll. The ensuing corner kick by senior MF Jen Simonetti (Copley, OH) found the head of junior D Alicija Bredlo (Burlington, Ontario), but Carroll was there to stop Bredlo's header from close range at the far post.

Freshman F Natalia Walters (South Barrington, IL) paced the Flyers with six shots (four on goal).

"It feels wonderful," said Tucker. "The excitement of winning a championship and going to the NCAA's never gets old. But you have to give both teams a lot of credit. Rhode Island came out and battled us very tough today, but we fought throught it. I'm so proud of the way our girls played."

Kozlowski, Walters, Simonetti, DeLuca and Sirmans were selected to the All-Championship Team. For Kozlowski, she becomes the first Flyer in history to be named to the All-Championship in four consecutive seasons.

UD will await Monday's NCAA selection show for its first-round opponent and site. The show will be aired live on ESPNNews at approximately 4:30 p.m. ET. First-round action begins Friday with the second round to be played Sunday.

Post Game Notes:

The Flyers won their fifth A-10 championship and second consecutive. It was their seventh finals appearances.

The Flyers are now 12-4 in A-10 tournament play (4-0 at the University of Massachusetts, having won a title there in 1999).

UD is now 5-2 in the championship game...12-2 at the top-seed...2-1 versus the second-seed.

Kozlowski also scored Friday's game-winning goal with assists from same two teammates - Sirmans and Simonetti.

Sirmans helped set-up all three UD goals in tournament play.

It was the Flyers' 13th game decided by one goal or less and UD is 12-1 in those games.

UD is 3-0 in overtime this season.