UDPride Discussion Forums - WSOC: LaSalle Slips Past Dayton 1-0

The LaSalle Explorers got one good look at the net over 90 minutes of play and made the lone goal of the match look easy, topping the Dayton Flyers 1-0 Friday evening at Baujan Field in UD's first conference loss at home since 2007. Continuing their dominance over UD in recent years, LaSalle capitalized on their best look of the night while the Flyers were largely inept inside the offensive third in spite of a staggering shot differential. The Explorers improve to 8-4-2 (2-0-0) while UD falls to 6-8-1 (2-2-0).

In a match where the run of play defied both the box score and UD's inability to generate quality offensive chances on goal, the match started out squarely in Dayton's favor and never let up for the remainder of the first half. Using a substantial tailwind to help push the ball forward, UD did well to pin LaSalle into their defensive half of the field for long stretches. Dayton sent numerous balls into the box and tried shooting from long distance. Most of those chances were wasted opportunities however and let the Explorers off the hook on far too many occasions. UD would have been better served continuing to dissect the defense for weak spots by finding a teammate breaking free on an off-the-ball run.

The Flyers orchestrated solid possession until they encroached upon LaSalle's defensive third. That's when things fell apart as UD sprayed balls over the goalpost like seasoned NFL placekickers. One by one, shots sailed high and wide, limiting the need for LaSalle GK Jessica Wiggins to make demanding saves -- or any saves at all. But even the saves she made were a result of long-distance shots from beyond 20yds and for perhaps the best goalkeeper in the entire conference, those shots were never going to beat a player of her caliber. To Dayton's credit, they forced Wiggins to make a couple diving tip-saves, but the long-distance shots gave her enough time to line them up and properly defend.

LaSalle tried generating offense with quick counters, looking for A10 star Kelsey Haycook whenever they could. But much of the offensive push by LaSalle did not result in shots on goal.

That all changed in the 31st minute on a midfield counter that sprung Haycook open along the left side. A couple relatively pedestrian back-cuts with the dribble-drive left UD's defenders stuck in concrete. Haycook finished the gimme inside the box to the lower left corner to put LaSalle up 1-0 on their only legitimate shot on goal of the first half -- a storyline that has become all too familiar for the Flyer defense.

The good news: UD had 15 minutes remaining to enjoy the first-half tailwind and find an equalizer. Like the prior half hour, Dayton controlled most of the possession and the game was played in LaSalle's defensive half. But the offense continued to fall apart anywhere near the Explorer goal box. The only shots on frame were ambitious rips from long distance, while all of the chances inside the box were completely off target and out of danger for the LaSalle back line. It was a first half of wasted opportunities from start to finish -- in spite of the seemingly good hustle. It also resonated with frustration because of the marshmallow goal surrendered earlier in the half that put Dayton in a 1-0 deficit.

First half stats favored UD in shots 17-5 and corner kicks 3-0.

Forced to play into the stiff breeze in the second half, many fans assumed LaSalle would do to Dayton was UD did to LaSalle with the same advantage. To the Flyers' credit however, the wind was largely a non-factor in the second half as Mike Tucker's team once again controlled the run of play -- save for the first 2 minutes when LaSalle nearly made it 2-0 after pinging a shot from distance off the crossbar.

The Flyers once again pushed the ball forward and made LaSalle defend with numbers, but the Explorers always out-numbered Dayton's attacking players when the run of play encroached upon LaSalle's goal box. And much like the first half, nothing of significance offensively occurred inside the 18yd line. Forced to shoot from long-range, Wiggins picked off shots like the seasoned goalkeeper she is, while her back line and midfielders were perfectly fine with allowing Dayton to attempt to bend it like Beckham in order to tie the match.

When the Flyers did get balls inside the Explorer goal box, a lack of physicality and urgency usually did them in. Too often, Dayton mids and forwards were pushed off the ball or forced into a poor touch that led to a sub-standard pass to a teammate attempting to get open. Lack of tactical execution inside legitimate scoring distance would prove to be the difference in the match -- and UD did themselves no favors by wasting numerous free kicks with sub-standard service into the box.

Dayton caught a break for the entire second half when Haycook failed to appear, nursing on the sidelines for the final 45 minutes after taking a knock late in the first half. Her absence kept the Explorers from doing much of anything offensively. Already with the 1-0 lead however, their job was made far easier: defend with numbers behind the ball to protect the lead and salt the game away.

Unfortunately, that's what happened. Despite another 45 minutes of domination, UD had nothing to show for it and once again lost a close match to the Explorers, a side that hasn't lost to the Flyers in over four seasons. Match stats were dominated by UD, out-shooting LaSalle 28-10 and out-cornering the visitors 9-3.

The tale of the tape was surrendering a soft game-winner and an inability to put shots on frame offensively. Only eight of 28 Dayton shots were between the pipes or under the crossbar, reflecting the chorus line of field goals the Flyers made over the course of 90 minutes as they sprayed balls all over campus. On the other side, LaSalle converted on just one of four shots on goal.

Friday's match was a microcosm of the entire season wrapped into 90 minutes of viewing frustration. Dayton conceded yet another stupendously soft goal on poor defending, dominated play otherwise, yet wasted most of the elbow grease with soccer inefficiency, impatience, and an undeniable lack of speed when an extra gear could have been the difference between a half-chance and an uncontested walk-in on the opposing goalkeeper.

At the end the day, UD put in a solid effort in the hustle department but lacked execution to make any of it count.

Head Coach Mike Tucker scrambled the starting lineup and inserted senior Chelsea Rose along with Libby Leedom and Abby Weigel. Rose had a terrific game, playing about 20 minutes in each half and offering good hustle, anticipation, and offensive punch. When Dayton looked their best, Rose was usually in the thick of it and making something happen in spite of her small size.

Ashley Campbell was athletically superior in the Flyer offense, but all 10 of her shots were off target -- most of them taken from beyond the goal box. Goalkeeper Elizabeth James was hung out to dry by the Flyer back line on Haycook's game-winner and can't be faulted for the goal against. She made a couple good diving saves later in the second half to snuff out the only other legitimate Explorer scoring chances.

No one is prepared to feel sorry for the Flyers however as they continue to struggle. Dayton can't afford to let Friday's disappointing loss beat them twice in the same weekend as UD hosts Fordham on Sunday afternoon. It's a chance to turn it all around -- but things must change for the results to change.