DAYTON (OH) — Friday night provided fans with the first triple-header of the season as the men’s and women’s soccer teams and volleyball team played hosts to three different opponents. Mike Tucker’s women’s soccer team blanked Temple 4-0 to start things off, while Kelly Sheffield’s spikers rallied to beat Xavier in five sets. In the nightcap, the men’s soccer team shut out SIU-Edwardsville 3-0 to complete the sweep.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

A wet playing surface and intermittent drizzle kept Dayton and Temple battling the elements for most of their match, but the Flyers walked away as the far more impressive side in a dominating 4-0 victory. Two goals in each half paced the offense as the Owls were overwhelmed and over-matched from the start. Entering the game with a 4-3-1 record, Temple had feasted on cupcakes and it showed. Dayton proved quicker, more talented, better organized, and more fit over 90 minutes. Dayton improves to 5-0-4 (1-0).

The match started well for UD as most of the action took place in the Temple defensive half. Long balls into the box and runs toward goal provided several great chances in the first half. What didn’t amount to a shot on goal usually resulted in a corner kick and second opportunity to find the net. In the first half alone UD had nine corner kicks and 13 shots to just two shots for Temple. Lauren MacCormick cleaned up a bobbled save directly in front of the net in the 31st minute to put UD up 1-0, then Emily Kenyon did likewise from the same spot just four minutes later to make the score 2-0.

From there, Temple basically mailed it in. The rest of the half was all Dayton and the Owls were lucky things weren’t far worse. The Flyers did not finish especially well in the first half but played good soccer everywhere else.

Cara Cornacchia cleaned up a second bobbled save by Owl goalkeeper Kara Williams 10 minutes into the second half to up the lead to 3-0. Josie Grant added a fourth and final goal in the 89th minute on a nice touch off service from Colleen Williams. Between the third and fourth goals, Dayton maintained firm control and emptied the bench to share the playing time.

It’s hard to imagine Temple winning more than three or four league matches all season. Their goalkeeping is highly suspect and the Flyers played well against a team they should have dominated — and did. Katherine Boone earned her sixth shutout of the season while the Flyers outshot Temple 28-4.

Dayton travels to GW for a Sunday match in Washington, DC.

VOLLEYBALL

The cardiac kids came through yet again in a thrilling five set come-from-behind victory, this time over league rival Xavier in the opening match of the A10 schedule. The Flyers improve to 11-2 (1-0) after the 26-24, 14-25, 18-25, 25-21, 15-13 victory. The Musketeers fall to 7-7 (0-1).

Dayton was fortunate to win the opening set. Down late by two or three points, they rallied and held off a Xavier set point to win by two. Xavier had the better of play in the opening frame but let a couple critical points slip away — including the set point that may have ultimately been the difference in the match. Up 1-0, the Flyers felt pretty good knowing they took the lead without showcasing their best volleyball.

Unfortunately, the level of play deteriorated considerably over the next two sets. Xavier ran over UD in set two, winning in convincing fashion 24-15. The set didn’t even feel that close as the Musketeers dominated nearly every battle at the net while digging out Flyer kills with aplomb in the back line. Sheffield’s team couldn’t get anything going and that included poor service that cost the Flyers any chance of a set two recovery. Unable to generate kills or solve Xavier’s blocking wall, XU began to dominate the match overall.

The critical third set also went Xavier’s way, though UD did manage to diversify a bit and become less predictable. Going to the left too often and unable to angle their kills perpendicular to the floor were set two issues, and while they were still prevalent in the third set, attempts were made to try something else.

With things looking bleak and the team not showing good form, a comeback seemed improbable. That premonition never came true as the Flyers found their groove again to hang on to take the fourth set, then rally from behind to secure set five and win the match.

How did they do it? Better hitting, better diversity, better defense, and a few Xavier miscues to go round things out. UD got out in front early in set four and basically held on to send the match to a deciding fifth frame. In the fifth, the Flyers went up 9-8, but quickly fell behind 12-9. Just when it looked like the rally caps would fall short of their magic, UD gutted it out and won six of the last seven points to take the match 15-13.

When the Flyers suffer at the net, the Flyers tend to suffer overall. That was the case Friday evening as Xavier blocked UD out of their game much like past NCAA tournament foes have twisted Dayton out of their comfort zone. Once the Flyers showed better form up front, everything seemed to come together in other areas as well.

Dayton hosts Cincinnati on Tuesday.

MEN’S SOCCER

The Flyers are back to .500, thanks to a decisive 3-0 shutout of SIU-Edwardsville in the campus nightcap. Jack Pearson’s far post header in the 16th minute put UD in the lead at halftime, while two more goals in the second half provided the cushion. Dayton improves to 3-3-1, while the Cougars fall to 2-4-1.

In a re-match of last year’s Flyer victory at Baujan Field, this one took on much the same characteristics. Dayton had more size and strength, but SIUE showed quality speed when they needed it. Both sides played relatively even soccer over the first 10 minutes, but Pearson’s finish gave Dayton a leg up to dictate play over the remaining 75 minutes. Ryan Handbury and Tommy Watkins earned assists as they linked up for excellence service to the far post. A header to the opposite post is where Pearson provided the finish work with the header of his own.

The Flyers got an emotional lift from the early goal and improved their play over the course of the first half. Hustling to loose balls and linking up in the middle third, UD demonstrated good form in all phases. Defensively, counter-attacks were not a problem as in past matches and the midfielders did a nice job of tracking back to defend in space. Up top, the Flyers pushed forward enough to earn seven first half corner kicks. While the opportunities didn’t create goals, the pressure alone kept SIUE in a defensive posture they had trouble stepping out of. UD almost added a second goal when a free kick from 21 yards out bent around the wall and hit the crossbar.

Shots were nearly even at halftime but UD had five more corner kicks.

Peter Chilemena stuck a fork in most of the Cougars’ hopes and dreams just two minutes after intermission on a nice hustle play just outside the goal box. Winning possession while shedding defenders, Chilemena also beat the charging goalkeeper with a flick/chip into an open net beyond. Up 2-0, SIUE ran out of gas.

On the other hand, Dayton continued to get better. The Flyers showcased some of their best soccer of the season with quality tactics and smart use of free space on the weak sides and touchlines. Dayton had room to run, but earned it the old fashioned way with tight touches and heads-up vision.

Isaac Kissi added the third goal in the 58th minute on a deflection from Sonny Renner’s free kick. The re-direct squibbed through the mixer near the six yard line and tucked inside the far post.

After starting the season 0-3-1 amid the highest expectations in program history, things were not looking good. Despite the suspect competition, the Flyers have crawled their way back with three straight wins and that alone is good news.

UD’s first chance to get above .500 takes place Wednesday against Alabama A&M at Baujan Field.