AUG. 19, 2011

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The University of Dayton offense took awhile to get a spark, but once it did, it was on fire. The 2010 Atlantic 10 champion Flyers defeated the 2010 Sun Belt champions, Middle Tennessee State, 7-2 Friday night in the season opener for both squads.

“We had moments of brilliance on offense, but we gave away goals early in each half with defensive lapses. We just can’t do that and there are things we need to clean up,” said UD Head Coach Mike Tucker. “On the other hand, scoring seven goals in your first game against a team that made the NCAA Tournament is pretty awesome. I really like that the attack came from so many different players too.”  

The Blue Raiders took an early 1-0 lead in the 12^th minute, but junior Colleen Williams picked off where she left off –tying for second in the nation in points last year – and scored goals in the 28^th and 29^th minute of the match to give UD a 2-1 edge.

Freshman Haley Keller, playing in her first collegiate game and coming off the bench, scored the eventual game winner for Dayton in the 36^th minute.

UD led 3-1 at the half but MTSU cut into that lead in a hurry, pulling within 3-2 just 10 seconds into the second half.

The rest of the half belonged to senior forward Josie Grant who scored her first collegiate hat trick, notching goals in the 60^th, 64^th and 66^th minutes.

“Good for Josie. She has worked so hard and she is a great team player,” said Tucker. “She took advantage of  her opportunities and finished.”

The final goal was an own goal in the 67^th minute giving the Flyers the 7-2 victory. Dayton outshot MTSU 16-5 in the match.  Senior Emily Kenyon and sophomore Juliana Libertin each dished two assists, and Williams added an assist to go with her two goals.

The Flyers host Cal Poly this Sunday, Aug. 21 at 1 p.m. at Baujan Field in their home opener. Admission is free to all regular season UD soccer games at Baujan Field. Following the match, the Flyers will host a free clinic for the TOP Soccer Program, an organization for special needs children. Also the first 250 fans will receive the official University of Dayton fall sports poster.