Head Coach Dave Schureck couldn’t be any happier about his team’s play this year at Baujan Field. That’s because the Flyers earned themselves an undefeated home season this year after sending the Michigan Wolverines back to Ann Arbor with a 3-1 loss in their minds. Dayton finishes 7-0 at home in 2000 and improves their overall record to 14-3 (8-1) with a remaining game at Geo. Washington on Sunday. While the Flyers set a school record Friday with their 14th win of the season, Dayton can wrap up the A-10 regular season title with a victory in the season finale against GW.

Friday’s contest was the first act of a Baujan Field doubleheader with Head Coach Mike Tucker’s womens team. While the men were stepping out of conference play, the contest still meant something to the seniors as it was their last home game of their careers. Michigan entered the match as a first-year varsity program, but the Wolverines have been a club power for years (National Titles in 1997 and 1998) and have as much talent (if not more) as the second-tier teams in the Atlantic-10. Any time Dayton can beat a Big-10 school it’s a good thing. Beating Michigan — whatever the circumstances might be — is even better.

Dayton controlled the play as the game began and started knocking at the door of the Wolverine goal mouth immediately. The Flyers had several chances to notch a couple of early goals, but it never happened and Michigan gained some confidence as the first half wore on. UM never seriously threatened the Flyer net in the first half, but the healthy contingent of Michigan fans in attendance seemed very content with the 0-0 halftime score.

Dayton needed a quick goal to start the second half and got a major break when the Flyers were awarded a penalty kick in the 54th minute on what can only be described as a lousy call by the head referee. A Flyer player and two UM defenders fought for a loose ball just inside the 18-yd line. A few legs tangled up, a Dayton player stumbled, and the whistle was blown. It was a weak call, but Flyer midfielder Wade Fischer wasted no time converting the PK to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead. The goal took the wind out of the Wolverine sails and they never recovered from it. One can only wonder what the outcome might have been had the referee swallowed his whistle.

The Flyer players however would tell you it wouldn’t have made a difference. That’s because Dayton capitalized on a loose ball in the UM penalty box a short time later to extend the lead to 2-0 and permanently close the door on the Wolverines. Flyer forward Sunday Isename added a third goal when he beat the UM goalkeeper and a Wolverine defender to a loose ball at the 18-yd line, deflecting it off the visiting team for an own-goal Isename received credit for. Isename’s goal was a splendid play and put an exclamation point on the contest.

Michigan got their lone goal of the game in the 90th minute after a free kick ricocheted off the near post and a UM player one-touched it past UD goalkeeper Jeff Krempec.

Several Flyers played well and many of them stood out for different reasons, but sophomore defender Michael Nsien had an especially nice game and took charge in the air on several occasions to win 50/50 balls and help keep a tight leash on the Michigan strikers. Nsien’s performance earns him his first UDPride Player of the Game.

Dayton travels to Geo. Washington on Sunday for an afternoon game that has a lot riding on it. A win ensures the Flyers the outright Atlantic-10 regular season title and #1 seed in the conference tournament. Picked to finish second at the beginning of the year, the Flyers have won 13 of their last 14 matches and stand a great chance of finishing ahead of Rhode Island. The Rams were nationally ranked for much of the year and were favored to repeat as conference champs.