DAYTON (OH)– The Dayton Flyers conceded the first goal but scored four unanswered to top the Eastern Illinois Panthers 4-1 Sunday afternoon at Baujan Field. UD improves to 4-1 while EIU falls to 1-5.

The Flyers got off to a great start soon after kickoff and controlled much of the overall run of play. Quicker to the ball, UD capitalized with solid possession in the middle third of the field and took advantage of that effort by getting the ball forward with nice one- and two-touch passing.

There were well-played combinations between teammates along with quality individual moments of excellent footwork. In some cases, both developed in the same sequence and allowed the Flyers to find players in open space as they headed toward goal. UD put high-quality shots on goal, but EIU GK Evan Turner was tough to beat in the first 15 minutes.

As well as the Flyers were playing however, the Panthers capitalized on their first solid offensive chance against the run of play. A well-placed cross found Jordan Collins at the far post. Collins elevated over the Flyer defense and headed it to the far post and over the out-stretched hands of UD goalkeeper Chris Froschauer to put EIU up 1-0 in the 13th minute. Froschauer could do little to stop the well-executed piece as UD found themselves in an early hole despite the good soccer they were playing.

Dayton battled after surrendering the goal however and continued to put pressure on the EIU back line. Whether it came from tactical passing through the midfield or solid long balls to the corner flags, the Flyers continued to find loads of space to make something happen. All of the good play resulted in several shots on goal or crosses in the box — and it didn’t take long for the Flyers to equalize.

Junior Able Keller took possession on the left flank of the goal box and suckered his defender inside, opening space toward the baseline for a well-played cross to the near post. Senior Evan McCreary made a perfect near-post run and one-timed the header into the net to tie the match at 1-1 in the 20th minute.

Andres Acevedo would put the Flyers up 2-1 just five minutes later to regain firm control of the match on an assist from Keller.

For the first 25 minutes, UD was executing and playing some of their best soccer of the season. Over the last 15-20 minutes of the half however, the play turned a bit sloppy and both sides lost their shape. Balls that were being controlled in the midfield earlier in the match became more problematic as things approached halftime. Still, Dayton remained the better side and were the more dangerous team when scoring chances materialized.

Halftime stats slightly favored EIU in shots 9-7 while UD won the battle of corner kicks 4-0.

The second half was all Dayton. It was perhaps UD’s best 45 minutes all season — if nothing else in terms of effort and physical toughness. Putting all of the hustle aside, the Flyers also capitalized on their scoring chances.

UD took the 3-1 lead just two minutes after the re-start when Keller unleashed a 30yd missile from center field that found the upper 90 of the far post, leaving Panther GK Evan Turner helpless to stop it.

Over the next 25 minutes, UD battled fiercely and won a majority of the 50/50 balls both on the ground and in the air. At times they completely dominated, and their physicality frustrated EIU’s central play along with their coaching staff somewhat bewildered at the referee’s willingness to let both sides play. The Flyers took advantage and out-muscled the Panthers everywhere they needed to.

Daniel Berko was a timely second-half substitution and his speed and energy quickly re-energized the Flyer offense. Chasing down balls and holding possession when needed, Berko caused fits for the Panther back line and while he took a couple ill-advised shots from long-distance, his presence alone in the UD offense never allowed EIU to catch their breath.

Dayton made it 4-1 in the 71st minute when Eddie Jones cleaned up a Berko feed from 12 yards out that tucked nicely inside the lower corner of the near post. UD had a couple more chances to add a fifth goal, but Chris Froschauer also stoned a Panther shot late in the match with a diving paw at the 6 yard line to keep EIU out of the net in the second half.

Overall match stats favored UD in shots 22-19 and corner kicks 7-1. The shots weren’t indicative of the overall run of play however. The Flyers dominated for about 70 minutes and were clearly the better team.

Sunday’s effort was outstanding based on the result, but more importantly in how UD earned it. Dayton pushed EIU around all afternoon and dominated in nearly every phase that required a simple gut-check effort to win a loose ball. All of the blue-collar work made the 4-1 result almost academic, as the scoring chances and goals were ultimately just byproducts of all of the excellent hustle starting in the back line and continuing in the midfield.

UD’s back line was organized for most of the match and conceded few dangerous chances, forcing the Panthers to shoot on half-chances and ambitious crosses that were gobbled up by Froschauer in goal.

It remains to be seen how anemic EIU might be this season. They will not win a lot of games this year and it’s a mistake to make too much of the victory Sunday afternoon, but these were matches Dayton lost in abundance just a season ago. If Dayton can duplicate the loose-ball challenges and physical play in future matches that fans enjoyed in the 4-1 victory on Sunday, UD will give themselves a great chance to win against most of the teams remaining on the schedule.

UD remains at home next week for matches against Gardner-Webb and IP-Fort Wayne.