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View Full Version : Red Card Helps Flyers Top George Washington 3-1


Chris R
10-12-2008, 04:13 PM
DAYTON (OH) -- An early goal from Alex Torda and a GW red card minutes later gave UD all the momentum they needed to secure the 3-1 victory Sunday afternoon at Baujan Field. The Flyers improve to 8-2-1 (2-0) while the Colonials fall to 4-4-2 (0-1-1).

As the sparse crowd settled in to enjoy the perfect fall weather and some UD soccer, they were quickly on their feet again as Dayton got off to a fast start to open the match -- something fans have gotten accustomed to in recent weeks. The Flyers took advantage of a throw-in to get the ball in the box in the second minute of play. Alex Torda found himself on the receiving end of a header and used his own head to slot the ball past goalkeeeper Matt Scheer to give Dayton the 1-0 lead.

Things got even better in the 8th minute when Colonial defender Jake Davis was red-carded for a dangerous tackle from behind to give Dennis Currier's team a man advantage for the remaining 82 minutes of the match. From there, Dayton basically cruised, but GW made things interesting for a brief period after the foul.

Flyer defender Randy Dennis tracked a loose ball down the right side of the box, but came in a tad late and took a Colonial attacker to the ground, giving the boys from Foggy Bottom a penalty kick they subsequently polished off to tie the match at 1-1.

Despite the freebie, UD remained in command and used extra space on the pitch to work the ball from side to side, patiently but efficiently finding holes in the Colonial defense. A very strong effort up top from Florian DeCamps, Alex Torda, and Simeon Zapryanov gave GW fits for extended periods, while Josh Albers did his usual high tempo work between the 18s to keep the opposition on their heels.

GW never completely rolled over however and had a few counter-attacks of their own that proved relatively dangerous. The Colonials seemed to lack the same level of organization in the attacking third however and this reality ended up plaguing their offense over the remainder of the first half. The Flyers demonstrated better first touches and finish work where it counted. The payoff for that came in the 18th minute when DeCamps tapped a nifty half-volley from 18yds out to put the Flyers up 2-1. The goal also took some wind out of GW's sails.

Over the rest of the half, UD looked sharp. A lot of good ideas materialized and team soccer resulted in through balls and one-touches that kept possession in favor of the Flyers. By halftime, Dayton outshot GW 9-5 and attempted two corner kicks while surrendering just one.

While up a man and up a goal to start the second half, an insurance score would go a long way to sticking a fork in the Colonials for good. GW made just enough strong runs in the first half to give an indication they might be able to manufacture a goal in the field of play. Again however, Dayton came out strong following a kickoff. Just five minutes into the second half it was Joe Olwig latching on to a Ben Murray cross directly in front of the GW goal mouth. A sliding boot was all it took to deflect the cross into the net for the 3-1 Dayton advantage.

Up two scores, the remaining 40 minutes were all Dayton. The Flyers had the tools to play keep-away had they chose, but UD still elected to attack and find a fourth score when the opportunities were there. They came close several times and UD was at their most dangerous when Isaac Kissi gave a blue-collar effort up top.

Evident as the second half wore on was UD's more physical style and attention to details. Hard tackles usually went in UD's favor and communication among teammates never seemed to suffer. Whenever Dayton needed to find a white jersey to work the ball out of a tight spot, everything fell into place.

By match end, Dayton outshot GW 15-12 while corner kicks were even at five a piece.

Dayton extends its winning steak to a season best six matches. Though the competition remains somewhat suspect, good teams know how to win matches they are favored in. Currier's squad is doing just that and with massive parity in men's soccer, it's never something to take for granted. Tougher matches loom over the rest of the A10 schedule and Dayton must raise their level of play if they hope to continue their winning ways. Fortunately, they are getting solid contributions from many players. While UD lacks a bona fide superstar, they are showcasing nice depth and diversity over the last month of the schedule. DeCamps and Torda are stepping up offensively, while Ben Murray and Josh Albers remain steady in the middle. Defensively, Ryan Handbury is doing his best to keep the back line organized.

We'll know a lot more about Dayton by this time next week. The next two matches against Charlotte and St. Louis are on the road -- a pair of programs currently seated atop the A10. If UD has any ideas of earning a first round bye in the conference tournament, they need to get the job done next weekend by avoiding losses. The Flyers have demonstrated an ability to take care of the teams they are favored against. Now it's time to play the underdog role and knock off a few favorites.


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