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Leathernecks Spoil Second Half; Flyers Lose 2-1
Leathernecks Spoil Second Half; Flyers Lose 2-1
Christopher Rieman
Published by Chris R
09-11-2011
Leathernecks Spoil Second Half; Flyers Lose 2-1

DAYTON (OH) -- Western Illinois scored twice in the second half to erase a 1-0 halftime deficit to defeat the Dayton Flyers 2-1 Sunday afternoon at Baujan Field. Butler took Houston Baptist 2-1 in the early game of the four-match Dayton Marriott Classic. The Flyers finish the weekend with an overall record of 1-4-0, while WIU improves to 2-3-1.

Dayton opened the match with their best stretch of soccer thus far in the 2011 season. Shortly after kickoff, UD showed the kind of patience lacking in prior matches by demonstrating a willingness to knock the ball around and avoid the ambitious long ball that more often results in a change of possession. Looking crisp and composed, Dayton was able to control the ball and move forward into the attacking half of the field without losing shape.

While UD did move forward, much of the final third of the attack was still largely one on one, but that was good enough in the 9th minute to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead. After David Abidor and Jack Pearson hooked up for a long ball from the back and flick header to Victor Duru, Duru collected the feed with his back to goal just inside the right corner of the box. A terrific spin and half volley shot to the far post left WIU goalkeeper Andy Ryan helpless as UD jumped out in front just minutes into the match.

Much of the improved play came from the hustle of sophomore Andres Acevedo as he ran down loose balls and checked into free space to receive quality service in the midfield. That tempo helped Dayton compete effectively over the first 20 minutes of the first half. As the half continued however, UD couldn't generate shots on goal for all of the hard work invested.

On the other end of the field, Western Illinois did most of their work through the midfield. Although smaller, the Leatherneck midfielders were crafty and never tried to do all the damage themselves. Instead, they knocked the ball around and worked their way upfield with old fashioned give-and-go's, overlaps, and runs into free space.

The competitive first half went back and forth between offense and defense for both squads, but each side had trouble staying sharp and poised once they approached the penalty box. As a result, the first half ended with Duru's goal being the difference.

Halftime stats were indicative of the run of play, with WIU holding a slim 8-7 edge in shots and 3-1 lead in corner kicks.

The Flyers couldn't maintain their level of play in the second half however as the Leathernecks asserted themselves in the midfield once again for better possession and movement both on and off the ball. The Flyers lost form over the course of the entire second half and what started out as a strong team effort turned into too much one-on-one play that resulted in being dis-possessed far too often. Part of that responsibility falls on the players away from the ball however and the lack of runs both into and out of free space didn't help things.

Western Illinois evened the match at 1-1 in the 50th minute on a high-level free kick from 21 yards out that bent around the wall and tucked just inside the upper 90 of the near post. UD goalkeeper Alec Storm was mostly helpless to stop the terrific shot, and so too everyone else defending it.

Knotted at 1-1, the next goal would likely win the match based on the inability of both sides to pepper the goal mouth with quality shots on goal. WIU found the net just four minutes later on a flurry inside the UD box that was put away from short distance to put UD down 2-1. While the Flyers still had 35 minutes to find an equalizer, WIU's second goal proved to be the game-winner.

Dayton's inability to duplicate the patience and sustained ball possession of the early minutes of the first half let them down in the final half hour of play. Too often, the Flyers turned away the easy pass and tried to make things happen with one-on-one soccer -- oftentimes dribbling into 2-3 defenders when a handful of teammates were open for service just seconds earlier. By making things more difficult than necessary, it prevented WIU's defense from chasing and spreading thin over the width of the field. The unwillingness to make the extra pass hampered UD's forward progress in the attacking half of the field. To no surprise, it also led to very few quality scoring chances near the WIU box. For most of the afternoon, neither goalkeeper had much to sweat over; there were only five saves in the match.

By match end, UD out-shot WIU 15-12 and won the corner kick battle 4-3. Still, success in the offensive half of the field remains contingent upon the amount of sustained possession the Flyers can manufacture. As the play turns more one vs. one, UD lacks the possession or spacing to get forward with a numbers advantage. Part of that is youth and inexperience on the field. At the prep level, going one vs. one all the time is oftentimes viable. At the major DI level, few players can make a living off it. As UD gets more comfortable playing together and working as a unit, the willingness to share the ball should also take a positive step forward.

Dayton hits the road next weekend for matches against Eastern Illinois and UW-Green Bay.
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