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WSU Ends 20-Year Drought; Tops UD 1-0
WSU Ends 20-Year Drought; Tops UD 1-0
Christopher Rieman
Published by Chris R
09-07-2015
WSU Ends 20-Year Drought; Tops UD 1-0

After a second-half barrage of offensive chances, the Wright State Raiders capitalized in the 89th minute with a game-winning goal to top the Dayton Flyers 1-0 and earn their first victory over their cross-town rivals since 1996. A Sunday evening crowd of 1,705 watched a competitive first half turn into a decisively mismatched second 45 minutes as UD struggled everywhere on the pitch and remains winless on the season at 0-5-0. The Raiders improve to 3-2-0.

The first 10 minutes of the match were lethargic for the home team, unable to match WSU's speedy play and pursuit of the ball. The Raiders out-hustled the Flyers to loose balls in the central third of the field, a competitive advantage that would play itself out over the course of 90 minutes.

The Flyers received the memo about the kickoff starting time around 715pm -- fifteen minutes after the match began. From there, Dayton did much better and started generating offensive scoring chances of their own. But it was a mighty struggle and when balls were pushed down the touch lines, UD found it difficult to get on the end of crosses in the box with a clean touch on frame.

Wright State countered with better anticipation of 50/50 challenges and picked off numerous balls near midfield that gave them space to push forward with the dribble-drive. They also made solid runs off the ball near the corner flags that forced the Dayton back line to defend the entire width. Doing so opened up more gaps in the middle and WSU had a number of good looks at the goal but couldn't punch it in. UD goalkeeper Kaelyn Johns came up huge on a couple mitt saves to keep the match scoreless.

UD's strikers tried to counter, but were unable to get past the last Raider defender. Too often, they were unable to win the ball, shield possession, and distribute to teammates making dangerous runs off the ball. Part of that was a lack of movement off the ball to begin with, bottle-necking the offense and relegating UD to try ambitious shots from long-range that were not threatening.

UD's best scoring chances came on set pieces, including seven corner kicks in the first half from the boot of Nicole Waters. The service was excellent, but nothing materialized.

By halftime, the match had more or less evened out. Both teams had chances to score but it felt like WSU's overall intensity would be the difference in the second half if things got tight.

First half stats favored UD in shots 18-5 and corner kicks 7-2 -- but those watching knew the run of play told a different narrative.

The second half was dominated almost entirely by Wright State. The Flyers physically wore down from the onslaught of nine WSU subs to keep their legs fresh and pace at a high level. Dayton brought just three players off the pine and the lack of quality depth was felt over the last 45 minutes of play.

The Raiders soon dominated nearly all 50/50 challenges in the center circle and covered 10yds of free space in the time it took Dayton players to cover half the distance. Unable to win balls in the air offensively or defensively, the Flyers fell into a defensive bunker as WSU pummeled the home team with repetitive pick-offs that created numerous scoring chances. Soon UD was asleep with their defensive marks as well, surrendering 15yds of space to wide attacking mids and strikers ready to knock balls in the Flyer box.

It was scramble mode for about 25 minutes and Dayton was fortunate to keep the match scoreless. They were helped by suspect WSU shots from long-range that got the Flyers off the hook. Johns once again came up huge in the box on a couple scrums near the goal line, and was helped in part by Nadia Pestell and Megan Herr clearing danger away at the last second.

Dayton finally manufactuered some offense in the last 15 minutes. They earned several more corner kicks but few honest scoring chances in the field of play continued to be a problem. The Flyers' best chance came on a set piece opportunity that WSU cleared off the goal line. Overall however, WSU was quicker to the ball and it was only a matter of time before their ball pressure and speed-of-play would cash in.

Unfortunately, that happened in the 89th minute on yet another ball in the box, only this time UD couldn't clear it away and the Raiders knocked it home for the game-winner. All told, WSU won the run of play in the final 45 minutes and probably deserved two or three tallies. The Flyers had their chances too, but quality never caught up with quantity.

Match stats were dominated by Dayton in shots 27-18 and corner kicks 11-3, but the boxscore belies what fans saw on the pitch over 90 minutes of play. Shots on goal were even at 6-6. The Raiders were the better side, competed harder, fought more resiliently for loose balls, dominated possession in the final half, and deserved their first victory over Dayton in 20 years.

Things may get worse before they get better. Aside from three or four players, consistency is completely absent and Dayton is getting out-worked as much as they are getting out-executed. That's unheard of for a Mike Tucker team. Depth is a problem and few difference-makers are coming off the bench and providing a lift. That said, many of the starters are out of excuses too.

The Flyers are generating little if any defensive ball pressure in the offensive half of the field, a responsibility of UD's strikers and attacking mids. Without that, opposing teams are starting their offenses near midfield. Until UD starts forcing opponents into mistakes in the defensive third, the run of play may not change. Pursuit of the ball -- or lack thereof -- is uncharacteristically absent in far too many places on the field.

While the worst start in UD women's soccer history feels like a dumpster fire, the good news is it can't get much worse. And Mike Tucker has a way of figuring out the seemingly unfixable. The team is far better than this, but nothing changes until they start competing again like every play matters.

UD is back in action against Rice University on Sept. 11th at Baujan Field.











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