Sept. 11, 2008
BIG-TIME SOCCER AT BAUJAN
The Flyer women's soccer team will play in two high-profile non-conference matches this weekend at Baujan Field. UD hosts nationally-ranked Duke this Friday, Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m. ET, marking the Blue Devils' first-ever visit to Baujan. Krystal Byrne, a freshman visual communications design student at UD, will serve as an honorary captain. She returned Dayton this year after battling leukemia and complications from the disease for more than three years. Rutgers will also make its first-ever trek to Dayton for a Sunday, Sept. 14 matchup. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.
FLYER NOTES
Dayton started its season 4-1 for the first time since 2004 when UD went 20-2-0 and earned an NCAA playoff berth. Flyer assistant coach Tania Armellino played four seasons at Rutgers, graduating in 2001. She was a three-time Big East All-Academic honoree. The Flyers lead the Atlantic 10 in shots (75) and are second in the conference in points (6.40), goals (2.20) and assists (2.00). Junior Caitlin Proffitt leads the Flyers with three goals this season. She is tied for second in the A-10 in points (7) and goals. Junior Mandi Back is tied for seventh with five points and is tied for sixth, along with sophomore Kelly Blumenschein, for goals scored (2). Junior Colleen Gibson leads the A-10 in assists with 1.00 per game. She's dished a team-high three assists in the three matches she has played. She is also seventh in the NCAA Statistical Rankings in assists per game. Sophomore Kelly Blumenschein leads the A-10 in game-winning goals (2). After posting her first career shutout, coming against Cincinnati (Sept. 9), Lisa Rodgers currently owns a 0.48 GAA, second best in the Atlantic 10. She is also tied for second with a .875 save percentage. UD currently boasts the best home attendance average of any Atlantic 10 school. Dayton is averaging 910 fans a game at Baujan Field. UD's game against Indiana drew 1,213 fans, the seventh best all-time attendance mark in Dayton women's soccer history.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS-DUKE
Duke (4-1-0) is coming off a 3-1 loss to No. 4 Notre Dame (Sept. 7). The game at Dayton marks the first time that the Blue Devils are playing on the road in 2008. Duke is ranked nationally in several polls: No. 9 by TopDrawerSoccer.com, No. 12 by Soccer Buzz Magazine, 14th in SoccerTimes.com and 12th in the NSCAA/adidas poll. The Blue Devils are returning 9 starters and 17 letterwinners this season. They are coached by Robbie Church who is entering his eighth year with an overall record 84-54-16. In the series the Flyers have battled the Blue Devils one time at a neutral location, losing 4-2 on Sept. 23, 1990. • Duke is tied for eighth in the country in scoring offense with 3.60 goals per game.
RUTGERS
Rutgers (3-1-0) received one vote in SoccerTimes.com and two votes in the NSCAA/adidas national polls. The Scarlet Knights are ranked fifth of 46 schools by Soccer Buzz Magazine in the Mid-Atlantic Region poll. Rutgers is coming off its first loss of the season, a 1-0 overtime setback to No. 11 Penn State. Junior Caycie Gusman leads the Scarlet Knight offensive attack with four goals. She is ranked 24th in the NCAA in goals per game. She was named Big East Player of the Week after scoring three goals in wins over Lehigh (Aug. 29) and Bucknell (Aug. 31). The Scarlet Knights return 19 letterwinners and 12 starters from a squad that went 9-9-3 last season. They are coached by Glenn Crooks, who is now in his ninth season at Rutgers, where he has a 90-64-20 record. Junior goalkeeper Erin Guthrie is 3-1 and has a 0.97 GAA with 10 saves. Junior Gina DeMaio leads Rutgers with five assists. She is ranked fifth in the NCAA in assists per game with 1.25.
LAST WEEK RECAP
The Flyers recovered nicely from their lone setback of the season, a 1-0 overtime loss to No. 18 Illinois (Aug. 31) in which UD played a man short for nearly 50 minutes. Dayton responded with a 3-2 win over Michigan (Sept. 5) and a 1-0 win against Cincinnati (Sept. 9). UD knocked off its second Big Ten opponent this season with the win over the Wolverines. UD also knocked off nationally-ranked Indiana, 4-1, in its season opener (Aug. 22). Sophomore Kelly Blumenschein scored the game-winning goal for UD for the second consecutive week. Freshman Kelsey Owen was the hero against Cincinnati. Her first collegiate goal came in the 49th minute and proved to be the game-winner. UD has won three of the last four matches against the Bearcats.
PROFFITTING FROM HER GOALS
Junior forward Caitlin Proffitt has scored five career game-winning goals for the Flyers. In her career, when Proffitt has scored a goal, UD is 9-1-1. She leads UD with three goals this season.
GREAT GIBSON!
Junior midfielder Colleen Gibson was named to the NSCAA/adidas All-Great Lakes Regional Third Team and First Team All-Ohio as a sophomore last season. She leads the Flyers with three assists this year, which is first in the Atlantic 10 and seventh best in the NCAA for assists per game (1.00).
RAVE RANKINGS
UD received four votes in the most recent NSCAA/adidas National Poll and are ranked fifth in the Great Lakes Region Poll. The Flyers remain ranked seventh of 60 teams in the Great Lakes Region by Soccer Buzz Magazine.
FRESH FACES
The University of Dayton women's soccer team 2008 recruiting class was ranked 72nd nationally as announced by Soccer Buzz Magazine. The Flyer freshman class is second among Atlantic 10 schools and is among the nation's Top 100 for the fifth straight year. Freshmen Emily Kenyon and Kelsey Miller have started every game on defense for the Flyers so far in the 2008 season. Kathleen Beljan has started four games on the back line, while Kelsey Owen has started three and played in all five matches at midfielder. Midfielder Josie Grant has also seen action in three games.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Flyers will be on the road next week. The play at regional-rival Wright State on Friday, Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET and then make their way to Muncie, Ind. where they will take on Ball State Sunday, Sept. 21 at 1 p.m. ET. |
