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Flyer WSOC/MSOC Drop Doubleheader in Home Openers
Flyer WSOC/MSOC Drop Doubleheader in Home Openers
Christopher Rieman
Published by Chris R
08-28-2016
Exclamation Flyer WSOC/MSOC Drop Doubleheader in Home Openers

The UD men's and women's soccer teams entertained Flyer fans in a Sunday afternoon doubleheader at Baujan Field. Both teams were looking for their first victories of the season but were unable to earn a result. Mike Tucker's WSOC team dropped a 2-1 decision to Kent State, while Dennis Currier's MSOC squad remains scoreless on the season with a 2-0 defeat to Western Michigan.

UD WSOC GAME 1: Kent State 2 Dayton 1


The Flyers started last weekend 0-2 and had Friday evening's match against Bucknell canceled due to severe weather. Looking to notch their first win of 2016, they hosted the Golden Flashes on a blistering-hot Sunday where the heat index crept past 100F.

Dayton, having fallen behind early in each of the first two matches, fell victim to the same bugaboo in the 9th minute of play as Kent State earned a free kick outside the Flyer box and took a quick re-start that caught the Flyers napping. A through-ball into the box released a KSU player behind the Flyer back line, forcing a foul to prevent the walk-in goal. The Golden Flashes converted the PK to take the early 1-0 advantage.

UD would respond, but it wouldn't be until later in the second half. For much of the first 45 minutes, the Flyers had trouble linking passes together and maintaining any sort of sustained possession to net an equalizer. Touches of the ball that should have taken one of two taps ultimately took four or five, slowing the game down and preventing UD from pulling Kent State out of their shape.

Once again without the services of MF Erin O'Malley -- injured early in the first half of the season opener at Cincinnati -- the Flyers lacked a conduit in the central third of the pitch to play through and link the defense to the offense. The UD back line cleared long balls out and away from danger, but those clearances lacked accuracy and seldom found the feet of Flyer teammates. Conversely, the UD mids and forwards lacked pace to dig balls out and win loose change. Whether it be the chicken or the egg, UD lacked continuity and Kent State had the tighter run of play. UD ended the first half down 1-0. Dayton had a couple close chances however and outshot and outcornered KSU 6-3 and 3-0 respectively. Flyer GK Kaelyn Johns did not have a credited save in the first 45 minutes -- the PK was the lone shot on frame.

The second half was a blast furnace as the heat and humidity only got worse. Players on both sides were starting to fatigue and both coaching staffs did their best to rotate in fresh bodies at every opportunity.

UD made a tactical move by pushing Nadia Pestell from the back line to outside midfielder -- likely to take advantage of her speed and work rate. With mixed results she rotated once again to the back line as others tried to jump-start the Flyer offense too.

Much like the first two matches, F Alexis Kiehl proved most dangerous in the Dayton attack, utilizing her speed and work rate to do her best and separate from KSU defenders. Service to her feet was not great however, and a lack of possession in the midfield kept most of the service confined to long balls out of the back line.

Her perseverance paid off however in the 66th minute when she ran onto a long serve 40yds from goal, out-legged two KSU defenders and encroached the KSU goal box on the dribble-drive. KSU was forced to foul, resulting in a PK she calmly polished off to even the match at 1-1.

The good vibes lasted less than three minutes however. Kent State played a ball over the top that UD's back line misplayed about 30yds out -- perhaps hoping for an offside whistle. By the time Kaelyn Johns recognized the calamity in front of her and left her box, KSU easily chipped a shot into an open net for the 2-1 lead that proved to also be the eventual game-winner.

Dayton had a few set pieces late in the match to shove balls in the mixer. They also hit the crossbar and narrowly missed on another well-placed cross directly in front of the goal mouth. While UD generated shots on goal, quality was lacking. Time eventually ran out and the Flyers fell to 0-3 on the year. KSU improves to 2-1.

For the match, UD out-shot KSU 16-6, including 8-3 on frame. UD also dominated on corner kicks 5-0.

Dayton takes on Xavier this Friday at 5pm at Baujan Field.

UD MSOC GAME 2: Western Michigan 2 Dayton 0

The Flyer men's soccer team had thoughts of earning their first win of the season too. Before that could happen however, Dayton would have to find the back of the net for the first time this year. Last season's offense was one of the nation's leaders in goals scored, but this year's offense had yet to find the net in two exhibitions and two regular season games.

The Broncos tied the Flyers last year and were looking to do better. Annually one of the stronger teams in the MAC, WMU came out of the gates with reckless abandon, showcasing a speed and physicality that seemed to take the Flyers by surprise. It didn't take long for WMU to capitalize either, scoring in the 5th minute on a rocketed shot to the lower far post from 25yds out to put the Broncos ahead 1-0.

With their bell rung, the Flyers had to regroup and stick to their game plan -- there was still plenty of time to find an equalizer. Unfortunately, the first 45 minutes were dominated by WMU, with much of their success stemming from a faster pace to the ball on 50/50 challenges, more physical play and tackling, and better cohesion from defense to offense.

Much like the Flyer WSOC team in the earlier match of the day, the men's team struggled to transition their play from defending to attacking. The absence of All-American MF Amass Amankona to graduation is still readily apparent as no one has taken over the duties of serving as the go-between during Flyer counter-attacks. Most of the offensive chances in the WMU defensive half of the field resulted from long balls played by the UD back line -- balls UD rarely dug out and generated something positive from.

Part of the struggle up top comes from a young and inexperienced attacking group consisting of Sophomore Kennedy Nwabia and freshman Rok Taneski. A lot is being asked of them.

Halftime stats clearly underscored the lopsided run of play as Western Michigan outshot UD 7-1 and out-cornered UD 5-0.

Something had to change after intermission to alter the direction of the match, but WMU held firm and rarely allowed UD to manufacture anything dangerous on offense. In fact, Dayton's two best scoring chances of the afternoon came on re-directed headers from well-placed crosses in the box. Shots on goal, nevermind shots of any kind, by the feet of Flyer attacking players were nearly non-existent however. WMU's GK had just three saves on the day.

With an offense struggling to score, UD needed to tie the match at 1-1, otherwise a 2-0 deficit would probably stick a fork in things. Unfortunately, WMU struck again in the 83rd minute on a broken play inside the Dayton goal box that forced GK Justin Saliba away from his line. A redirected ball to an open net behind him made it 2-0. WMU nearly made it 3-0 just a couple minutes later on a poor back-pass in the UD back line. The ball was picked off and the Broncos chipped a shot to an open net that ultimately caromed off the right post and was eventually cleared away.

Western Michigan outshot Dayton 15-5 (6-3 on frame), while out-cornering UD 9-3. The Broncos improve to 2-0-0 while UD falls to 0-2-0.

The Flyers return to action on Friday as the second act of another double-dip at home with the UD women's soccer team. They take on St. Francis (PA) at 8pm.
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