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MSOC: VCU Rally Shocks Dayton 3-2
MSOC: VCU Rally Shocks Dayton 3-2
Christopher Rieman
Published by Chris R
11-07-2015
Unhappy MSOC: VCU Rally Shocks Dayton 3-2

With a two-goal lead and just six minutes away from an A10 regular season title, the Dayton Flyers were exactly where they wanted to be.

VCU was not.

A furious Ram rally produced two goals in the waning moments of regulation, and another just five minutes into overtime for the 3-2 golden goal victory to spoil UD's senior night recognition and A10 regular season title opportunity. George Washington leapfrogged UD and claimed the hardware after a victory over St. Louis tonight. Dayton drops their only A10 match of the season to fall to 10-5-3 (5-1-2), while VCU improves to 5-9-4 (3-2-3). UD earns the #2 seed in next week's A10 Tournament.

Dayton recognized the large, internationally-flavored senior class before kickoff, adding to the anticipation as the Flyers were one win away from sole possession of the A10 season title and in complete control of their destiny.

For the opening minutes of the first half, things looked promising for Head Coach Dennis Currier's squad. Comforted by a strong Baujan Field crowd and chilly but very playable conditions, the Flyers turned to the long ball to provide most of the offense over the first 15 minutes. Long, booming service from the back line tried to find UD attacking players running directly on goal. Some of the long passes went weak-side to catch GW's back line out of position after not playing to the width of the field.

The success was mixed. At times Dayton generated quality half-chances by digging the service out and playing balls in the box. At other times however, the service itself was unnecessary as GW lacked pressure on UD's back line players. The opportunity was there carry forward 10 yards further and work the ball through James Haupt and Amass Amankona lurking in the central third.

The A10's top offense remained the more dangerous of the two teams. The Colonials had trouble solving Dayton's back line, especially in the box where the Flyers owned nearly all of the dangerous high balls in the box. Excellent defensive clearances kept GW unable to find space for possible uncontested tee-ups around the 18yd line, allowing UD to counter-attack by sprinting players forward.

Maik Schoonderwoerd finally got the Flyers on the board in the 22nd minute after Michael Fraska played an accurate header to his body while shielding his defender just inside the VCU goal box. Schoonderwoerd used his size to spin and tap possession passed his defender, then toe-poke a ball under the Ram goalkeeper exiting the six yard box to challenge the play. Up 1-0, Dayton had the start they wanted.

The match continued to ebb back and forth over the last 25 minutes of the half. While first half shots would end up 8-8, Dayton controlled about 60% of the overall possession and looked like the more composed side when creating dynamic plays on and off the ball.

UD earned an edge in first half corner kicks 4-1, but the 1-0 score would carry into intermission.

The second half was more competitive as VCU picked up the pace and had better success pushing their offense forward. The next goal might decide the match -- either giving Dayton a comfortable 2-0 cushion or knotting things at 1-1 and forcing the Flyers to keep sending players forward.

Fortunately, Amankona ended the speculation in the 60th minute on a nifty chest trap and half-volley to the low corner of the post after VCU botched a clearance near their goal box. With a 2-0 lead and just 30 minutes remaining, UD could sense the hardware was near.

Nobody told VCU however. As the last 20 minutes of the match played out, Dayton began to lose a step in many parts of the field. The Rams were quicker in space and more timely on important challenges to earn possession or free kicks from the middle third. Soon, VCU was carpet-bombing the Flyer goal box with a relentless barrage of crosses from long distance that put a huge burden on UD's defense as the match wore on. One by one, crosses were defended and cleared, but the persistence finally paid off in the 85th minute when Dayton tapped in an accidental own-goal that appeared to nutmeg goalkeeper Justin Saliba directly in front of the goal line. It was a freaky, unlucky circumstance, but UD still nursed a 2-1 lead and were just five minutes from raising the mahogany in celebration of an A10 title.

As unlucky as the first VCU goal was, the game-tier was even more bizarre and unfortunate. The Rams tattooed a ball from long range in the 87th minute that forced Saliba to anticipate the ball's trajectory and dive for the far post. The shot was blocked however and the deflection lobbed 25ft into the air and toward the Flyer net. Saliba -- trying to return to his feet, retreat, and slap the ball out of danger -- couldn't get there in time and neither could any of UD's defenders to stop the ball from sailing into the high portion of the net. Just like that it was 2-2 with less than three minutes remaining.

VCU would ultimately win the match just 5:48 into golden-goal time after Saliba stopped an excellent shot to the lower left post but was unable to maintain control of the save. The ball squibbed away and the Rams tapped it in for the improbably comeback victory and dagger in the heart. The fatal mistake however was not challenging the shot itself.

Match stats were competitive as shots were even at 18-18 -- including shots on goal (7-7). UD won the battle of corner kicks 8-5.

With the loss, UD's fleeting A10 title hopes hinged on the outcome of the GW vs St. Louis match taking place at the same time. A tie would preserve UD's title but a victory by the Billikens or Colonials would leapfrog the winner over Dayton. The Colonials got the victory and became A10 regular season champions in one of the most improbable turn of events in recent league memory.

The Flyers still secure the #2 overall seed in the A10 tournament, but the heartbreak of Saturday night's outcome may leave a sour taste well into the offseason considering UD was less than five minutes away from taking the season title wire-to-wire. Suspect defending in the central third of the pitch over the last 12 minutes however opened the door for VCU to throw unlimited balls into the Flyer box that required numerous clearances. Dayton would have done better to deny those crosses somewhere in the midfield by applying significantly more ball pressure to force lateral passes. The Flyers looked tired however and the coaching staff chose not to use the bench to keep fresh legs on the pitch.

UD must win the A10 tournament and secure the automatic bid to reach the NCAAs. They are certainly capable, provided they don't let VCU's Saturday night victory beat them twice.
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