Sept. 9, 2008
DAYTON, Ohio - Freshman Kelsey Owen provided a huge lift for the Dayton women's soccer team, scoring her first collegiate goal Tuesday against Cincinnati in a non-conference game. Owen's goal was the difference maker in a 1-0 Flyer win at Baujan Field.
The two teams battled to a 0-0 stalemate in the first half. The Flyers were constantly on the attack and outshot UC, 8-4 in that first 45 minutes.
UD continued that momentum into the second half and Owen put the Flyers on the board in the 49th minute with a stunning shot to the upper 90. Dayton's Mandi Back and Tori Oelschlager were credited with assists after some great combination passing to set up the goal.
"It was a beautiful goal," said UD head coach Mike Tucker. "In warm-ups she was hitting some long range balls and I said, `I see you getting one of those in the game today' and sure enough we got a good combination , dropped it back for her and she one timed it. She didn't try to kill it or over hit and just put it in the right spot."
The shutout is the first of the season for the Flyers and also the first career shutout for goalkeeper Lisa Rodgers, who had four saves.
"Getting a shutout for us is huge," said Tucker. "We had to work for it. Cincinnati was hard to play because they were big and strong and coming at us fast and they put a lot of balls in the air. They recognized that we were vertically challenged in there at times but we held up to the pressure. Our backs are doing a really great job."
Sophomore Jerica DeWolfe had a chance to extend the Flyer lead late in the half. In the 78th minute she had a breakaway opportunity and Bearcat goalkeeper Andrea Kaminski made a great save to her left.
The Flyers start the season 4-1 for the first time since 2004 when UD went 20-2-0 and earned an NCAA playoff berth. UD has won three of the last four meeting against the Bearcats (3-2-0).
"We played well for the most part. After five games we know what we need to work on for sure and playing the competition we have played has paid off in that regard," said Tucker. "We have to get better at some things but we're doing some things awful well too. I definitely feel good about where we are."
The Flyers face their biggest test so far this season when they host No. 12 Duke University this Friday, Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m. The Blue Devils will make their first-ever appearance at Baujan Field.
"Red Scare and all our fans need to get out to the games this weekend because they make a difference and we would love to break our attendance record on Friday night," said Tucker. "You'll see two quality teams, a top 15 team in Duke, and we think we are deserving in that area too so we want to see a wild and crazy bunch of Flyer fans in the stands." |
