Jenna Guagenti’s floating free kick from 35yds out in the second half was the only score of the match as LaSalle up-ended Dayton on a day when senior Jaime Monahan was honored prior to the match. Monahan, who suffered a career-ending knee injury earlier in the year, was in the starting 11 and played the ball out of bounds in a symbolic gesture of team spirit and perseverence, but that failed to carry over to her teammates in the frigid temps and gale force winds as UD lost 1-0 and fell to 7-5-3 (5-2-0) while the Explorers improve to 8-8-1 (5-2-1).

With much of the wind at UD’s back to start the match, it was imperative for Dayton to get off to a good start and front-run with an early goal. At times the Flyers came close to scoring, including one ball off the post and another cleared off the goal line, but finishing inside the box was otherwise problematic. LaSalle’s defense was not especially athletic but remained organized enough to slow UD down just when it seemed like the home team had some room to make something happen.

The ice-cold temperatures made conditions miserable but the wind made it all the worse — not just on the body but also in the run of play. Dayton failed to take advantage of the tailwind over the course of the first 45 minutes when much of the action was in the LaSalle defensive half of the field. Knowing conditions were likely to be in LaSalle’s favor in the second half, there should have been a strong emphasis on finding the back of the net before halftime. Despite some back and forth play, the Flyers did manage to produce a better product even though the scoreboard had nothing to show for it. At the same time however, LaSalle was equally if not more athletic and it was apparent a tailwind in their favor in the second half could be very problematic for the Flyers. Add to that cocktail a Flyer back line with average speed and the 0-0 halftime score felt uncomfortable.

Goalkeeper Tasha Dittamore was back in action but went just 32 minutes before re-aggravating her leg injury and getting pulled for Stacy Chew.

The conditions helped Dayton earn a 10-4 advantage in shots on goal and a 2-1 edge in corner kicks, but those numbers would soon reverse.

Much of the second half was a struggle for Dayton. Nearly all of the loose balls were falling at the head or feet of Explorer players. LaSalle used the wind to keep the ball in UD’s defensive half for long stretches and the Flyers had a difficult time finding enough punch to clear the ball effectively to start an attack. As the half wore on, both sides had their chances. The Flyers missed a great opportunity when Colleen Gibson ran onto a through ball and touched it past the Explorer goalkeeper, but the touch resulted in a scoring angle that finished in the side netting. LaSalle had a breakaway of their own from the right side after UD players stopped pursuit on the ball thinking it had gone out of bounds. There was no whistle and play continued, but Chew blocked the one vs. one shot from 7yds out to keep the game scoreless.

Chew would be victimized in the 68th minute however when Jenna Guagenti served a free kick from 35yds out that caught her cheating too far out from goal. The ball slotted just under the crossbar for the first and only score of the match.

The Flyers had 20 minutes to tie things up and keep first place in the A10 in their back pocket, but the Explorers were the better side in most phases after Guagenti’s long-range tally. Dayton needed a serious jolt from the paddles to jumpstart the offense and begin winning loose balls, but LaSalle controlled the midfield and picked off most aerial balls to keep play behind midfield. UD never seriously threatened late and by the time the final whistle blew, LaSalle had outshot UD 13-4 in the second half and earned five corner kicks to just two for Dayton. Playing conditions oftentimes dictate opportunities and UD’s inability to get out in front when the getting was good ended up being a major storyline.

Head Coach Mike Tucker went deep to his bench, playing 19 players, though two of those were Monahan’s token start and Chew subbing for a hampered Dittamore. Still, many players saw the field as the staff tried to find a spark. But the cold conditions seemed to keep the Flyers from turning over — much like a car attempting to start on a dead battery.

Freshman Caitlin Proffitt once again had no trouble getting her engine started, which begs the question why others couldn’t do likewise. Proffitt has taken a major step forward in her development over the past two weeks and others would serve themselves well to emulate her. Gibson, Kim Sacher, and Alli Foust all made honest efforts too, but the names we fail to mention on other nights are the same ones going unmentioned again. Sunday’s match brought clarity. It’s apparent some players are prepared to work hard and some are not — and those who take winning less serious are going to find resentment from the ones who do.

There was perhaps no better example of that than UD’s substitution with just seven minutes remaining for a field player on the far side. Knowing time and score, the field player chose to casually jog across the field to the bench and waste precious clock time when a dead sprint was needed.

Much of UD’s success in the final week of the regular season depends on whether the part-time workers end up joining the full-time workforce. As it stands now, a small group of players are paying everyone else’s freight and there is no ambiguity about what names are on what list. There is good capable talent up and down the roster and the Flyers can still finish out the year on a strong note, but it takes a team effort and not just a handful burdened of doing the work of others.

UD finishes up the regular season at Richmond on Friday and league co-leader Charlotte on Sunday.

Visit the women’s soccer forum on the UDPride message board for video from today’s match.