DAYTON (OH) — Despite outshooting the DePaul Blue Demons 32-10, the visitors capitalized once again on UD bugaboos as Dayton fell 2-1 in OT on a cloudy and drizzly afternoon at Baujan Field. With two losses in a row, UD falls to 3-3, while DePaul improves to 4-1-1.

Like many matches thus far in the 2012 non-conference schedule, UD fell behind early and had to crawl back. Despite showing themselves to be the better team in most phases of the match over the opening 20 minutes, UD proved to be their own worst enemy. Providing DePaul with unearned possession from poor passing or incomplete clearances, the Blue Demons did just enough to keep the Flyers on their toes and out of the nets.

Dayton had many good chances early on to get on the scoreboard, but UD failed to win enough loose balls up top. Adding to the frustration was inept service from the mids and backs that forced the Flyer strikers to adjust their runs or chase to challenge a ball that should have been more accurately played to their feet.

DePaul did not show much dynamic playmaking over the entire first half, and most of their chances came at the generosity of the Flyers.

A soft whistle gave DePaul a free kick from 25yds out in the 23rd minute, and they took advantage with a well-struck ball that beat Flyer GK Katherine Boone topside for the 1-0 Blue Demon lead. Unfortunately, UD does not yet have the goalkeeping in place to wipe a goal off the scoreboard and any opportunity by opposing teams to put a shot on frame continues to prove problematic for the Flyers.

Dayton continued to be the better team however and if they could keep DePaul off the scoreboard, should find enough chances in the offense to climb back and take the lead. Colleen Williams called her number often and put some shots on goal — some better than others. Along the flanks, Juliana Libertin did her usual grunt work as well, chasing balls and providing some possession on the move. But she suffered from a lack of help to thwart her double-teams and open up the field — a circumstance that must be personally frustrating for her.

With things looking somewhat lethargic, in came freshman Ashley Campbell off the bench to provide an offensive spark and some cleaner play. Like her immediate impact on Friday night, she repeated things on Sunday and soon after entering the game, made the most of a half-chance inside the DePaul goal mouth. The Blue Demon goalkeeper mishandled a ball, allowing Campbell time to collect the loose change and play a cross from the left baseline to Williams waiting unmarked in front of the net. Williams finished the easy chance to tie the match at 1-1 in the 28th minute, but Campbell did most of the work.

With order somewhat restored, Dayton could once again settle down and start linking up to expose their better individual skill sets. At times it worked, but the glaring weaknesses in the back line never fully went away — and neither did some of the lackluster ball-winning near the center circle.

Despite outplaying DePaul in the first half, UD’s own miscues and lackadaisical moments kept the match at 1-1 at halftime. UD outshot DePaul 10-5 while the Blue Demons held a 2-0 advantage in corner kicks.

The second half provided a perfect opportunity for Dayton to shore up their sloppy moments and put DePaul away for good. But it never happened and the reasons were as numerous as the chances they squandered and possession they forfeited. Not that UD did not put shots on goal or create chances — it was everything in between that suffered.

Things fell apart for large stretches due to poor passing and defensive work in the defensive half of the field. The Flyer defenders couldn’t find the feet of teammates wearing the same jersey, while the strikers couldn’t finish opportunities when they did finally push forward.

High-ball challenges were a bit improved in the second half, but were quickly countered by giveaways that stuck a fork in great scoring opportunities when space opened up in front of the offense.

Libertin struggled to get any second half service, while Williams took it upon herself to challenge DePaul goalkeeper Megan Pyrz from every part of the field. To her credit, Pyrz made some excellent saves to keep the match tied up. Some shots on goal were high-quality, while others were overly ambitious and little more than turnovers in the field of play.

Still, Dayton should have had the match well in hand. DePaul simply hung around because the Flyers were too sloppy far too often from too many players.

All the stats favored UD as the match ended 1-1 in regulation. UD held a commanding 28-9 lead in shots on goal.

The overtime started well for Dayton. In fact, some of UD’s best soccer came in the opening moments from quality pressure on DePaul’s back line along with some decent passing — a rarity over the prior 90 minutes.

But UD paid dearly in the 96th minute on another routine defensive stand that turned into a fatal miscue to give DePaul the 2-1 victory. Unable to judge a long ball over the top, the Flyers got too forward and allowed a Blue Demon striker to get behind the last player with only Boone left to beat. A well-struck shot to the upper corner of the far post from 16yds out sealed Dayton’s fate for the second time this weekend.

UD outshot DePaul 32-10 while corner kicks were even at 3-3.

Dayton should have scored 3-4 goals on Sunday afternoon as the finishing was relatively poor. But the Blue Demon goalkeeper also erased a couple certain goals off the scoreboard with quality saves. The bottom line however is DePaul had no business scoring twice and the Flyers should not have to score three goals to beat the average opponents on the schedule.

DePaul was a middle-of-the-pack A10 team at best, showcased few game-changing moments, and were more or less keeping pace because of Flyer miscues. Their two goals were well done, but nearly all Flyer teams of the past would have kept DePaul out of the nets entirely.

After six games and two exhibitions, the Flyers have failed to secure a single shutout and are surrendering more than two goals a game. That’s unheard of for a UD defense and by this time of the season, most UD squads are running out of fingers on one hand to count the blank sheets.

Dayton will continue to lose to less-talented opponents if they continue giving up two goals a match. But it’s not just the number of goals — it’s the kind of goals. The Flyers are more or less handing the opposition points on the scoreboard with routine defensive plays that end up in calamity. Opponents are not being forced to work hard for their scores, and Dayton ends up being Dayton’s toughest opposition.

Further, the Flyer back line must take better care of the ball. The strikers are not getting quality service — when they get it at all. The midfield continues to get overpowered for loose balls near the center circle, and some players seem to embrace half-hearted work rates for long stretches. Still, DePaul’s defensive unit should have been better exposed.

Looking back on the weekend, Dayton lost to a pair of inferior foes, but you are what your record says you are. Dayton has distinct talent advantages at about 5 positions against even the best opponents on the schedule. But UD also has distinct disadvantages at 5-6 positions as well. This stark contrast is apparent in every match and is one of the more unusual roster realities of the last 10 years.

Dayton hits the road next weekend for matches against Harvard and Northeastern.