The Rhode Island Rams did what no A-10 team has done since the 2000 season, beating the Dayton Flyers in conference play as the Kingston, RI, school outpaced UD by a score of 2-1 before soggy conditions at Baujan Field. The Flyers fall to 7-3 (1-1) while Rhode Island improves to 6-3-1 (2-0).

Leaving the complex after the match, one Rhode Island fan said to another, “Boy, we sure kicked their…”. Perhaps a bit exuberant after beating the four-time defending A-10 regular season champs for the first time ever, but perhaps also he had a point. After all, the Rams dominated play in the loose ball department, especially in the second half, and looked quicker, stronger, and faster in several long stretches.

The first half however was evenly played. With stormy weather gone, a strong breeze took its place and Dayton went against the wind in the first half, hoping to tread water or steal a goal and take advantage of the wind-aided field conditions in the final 45 minutes. It looked like a positive set of circumstances because the Flyers and Rams remained scoreless, though Dayton had a golden opportunity in the first half to go up 1-0 when Tesia Kozlowski ripped a rebound from 15 yards out that sailed just high of the crossbar. Rhode Island had a great chance of their own when they placed a ball from the far left side that sailed for the far post, but GK Steph Weisenfeld saved the day with a great tip that caromed off the crossbar that was eventually cleared by the Dayton defense. The Flyer back line had trouble playing balls left and right to the flanks however and a couple were picked off and taken directly on goal. Fortunately, Dayton escaped without any damage. As the first half ended, things were even but with the wind at their backs in the second half, the Flyers could pin Rhode Island back just as URI did the same with a similar first half wind advantage.

When the second half started however, the wind died and there went Dayton’s help from Mother Nature. The Flyers had to get it done on their own, but Rhode Island was the side who dictated play. The Rams controlled the field the way most teams inevitably do — by winning the 50/50 challenges. Winning the loose balls meant URI had the first option in moving the ball forward. They did so with one-touch passes all night that caused problems for the home team. What took Dayton four touches to accomplish took URI just one, and a quicker pace opened up the field for wide open Ram players in the middle of the field to challenge the goal or distribute to the wings.

A UD giveaway in the defense gave URI the 1-0 lead in the 61st minute when Melanie Kasperak walked in uncontested and beat Weisenfeld for the early advantage. The Flyers needed to find the net quickly, and for a team not used to playing from behind, it’s always a concern to see if a perennial frontrunner can make it happen. Dayton found a way however and netted the equalizer in the 71st minute on a Liz Brown shot from long distance that appeared to take a slight deflection off another player. However it played out, Dayton was back in business with the score tied at 1-1 but it was short-lived.

Rhody took the lead for good in the 81st minute after cleaning up a ball they placed in the box that the Flyers were unable to clear out and away to the touch line. UD had a couple last gasps in the waning minutes to send the game into overtime, but nothing close enough to leave fans feeling jinxed.

Overall, the Flyers simply didn’t have it. Whether it was fighting for loose balls in the air, going hard for tackles, or running over a Rhode Island player altogether, Dayton mysteriously backed off. Rhode Island fields a strong side and has some decent players, but would take a good beating on most nights from Michigan State and Marquette — at least going by what fans saw from URI on Friday night.

Friday’s match was frustrating because fans have seen “total football” from the team and know all the pieces are there. Had UD played with the fire they had in a victory over MSU, Rhode Island would have been waxed. But it’s sometimes difficult to convince a team that every opponent on the schedule circles them before the year as their season-maker. And those same teams will ultimately play their best ball against them. Call it the Notre Dame syndrome perhaps, but Dayton is the proverbial bullseye now and teams are hungry to knock them off.

Despite the loss, things are anything but over and with nine conference games left, it’s still anybody’s race to clinch the regular season title. A trio of Flyers also stepped it up against URI and continue to show themselves to be the steadiest performers so far this year. Liz Brown worked hard in the attack and pushed the ball down the left flank on several occasions. She turned the corner a few times and was primarily responsible for Dayton’s chances in the box. Her engine never quit and, though she got the lone Flyer goal, the rest of her effort was actually the highlight reel. Defender Jen Simonetti put forth a typical warlock effort and is turning into one of the best players in the conference regardless of position. Simonetti shared time at left back and stopper while Nina DiGuardi continues to recover from her ankle injury as she works her way back up to a 90 minute game. Late in the match, Simonetti took several balls into the attack by juking a pair of Rhode Island players, giving Dayton not only a warrior in the back, but some offensive punch as well. Not to be forgotten is Weisenfeld as she showed once again that it’s not how many saves you make, its how many times sheer brilliance stops an otherwise certain goal while your teammates hopefully take care of the rest.

Dayton is back in action on Sunday to face UMass. The Minutewomen, 2-1 winners over XU on Friday, bring a poor 2-6 record into the match but may smell blood now that Rhode Island has opened the door just a bit. It’s also a chance for Dayton get back on the field and rediscover that consistent bully mentality Flyer teams have been noted for over the years.