There?s not a whole lot in sports that compares to the devastation of having a soccer season decided by penalty kicks. Imagine playing 90 grueling minutes and grinding out two 10-minute overtime periods only to have your team?s talent, experience and strategy negated. Now your season hinges on, in essence, luck.

Well that?s exactly what happened to the men?s soccer team last year in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 conference tournament. At the end of regulation and two overtime periods the score remained tied 1-1. The Flyers then lost 4-3 in PKs to one of the country?s elite teams in Massachusetts. The Minutemen then went on to win the A-10 tournament and advanced to the final four in the NCAA tournament.

While this might leave some teams discouraged the following year, the Flyers are eager to start this season and are hungrier than ever to finish strong this year. Head Coach Dennis Currier and his players know that they are so close to an NCAA bid they can taste it.

?That UMass loss was not easy to swallow,? Currier said, ?but what it helps you with is putting the season in perspective and it teaches you that you?re not as far away as you think you are [from an NCAA tournament bid].?

Senior midfielder Simeon Zapryanov agreed.

?I felt we were better [than UMass] and everyone thought so,? Zapryanov said. ?But with penalty kicks you never know, it?s just luck. We?re hoping this year that history will not repeat itself. We want to get to the A-10 tournament and ultimately the NCAA tournament.?

The positive attitude that Currier and Zapryanov reflect is something that keeps this team together and drives all of its members. They share a bond that makes them like brothers. Junior midfielder Alex Torda said that was one of the things that sold him on Dayton?s program.

?We all get along great,? Torda said. ?It?s not like there are outcasts or anything; and each win is a team win, whether they play or not each night everyone plays their butt off at practice because they know it?s for the good of the team.?

Torda recently made history when he was named to the Hermann Trophy watch list. He became the first Flyer athlete to earn a spot on the prestigious list of the 48 best Division I athletes. He said being named to the list was an honor for him.

?I?m very excited,? Torda said. ?I?m not pressured though; it?s more of a confidence booster for me. Obviously it?s tough to be named a finalist but I am going to do the best I can this season,? Torda said.

Now an upperclassman, Torda is one of the Flyers? main threats on the offense as one of the more dynamic attackers. Along with senior Joe Olwig, sophomore Josh Albers, and juniors Isaac Kissi, Zach Weiss, Ben Murray, and Torda, the Flyer offense is chock-full of athleticism, speed, versatility and depth. Although controlling the tempo is essential to Coach Currier?s attacking scheme, this group will provide some serious offensive firepower.

On the other side of the field, this year?s team returns its entire back line from 2007. A defense that allowed fewer than one goal per game on average (.95) and posted six shutouts last season; these boys put the ?D? in Dayton.

The poised and organized Flyer defense is headed by juniors Sonny Renner, Ryan Handbury and Randy Dennis and sophomore Tommy Watkins. Graduate student Daniel March, returning from an ACL injury, and freshman Michael Dehyle add depth to an already staunch defensive unit.

Currier said that having such diversity among the center-backs with Dennis and Handbury is a key component.

?They are two different types of players but they complement each other very well,? Currier said. ?Randy is the premium athlete and Ryan not only reads the game well but he?s a great communicator.?

If you?ve been at a soccer match and heard a booming baritone voice with a thick English accent shouting directions to his team, you?ve experienced Handbury?s communication skills firsthand. That communication is vital to the team?s success.

?It?s my role and people don?t realize how important it is,? Handbury said. ?We have a lot of raw talent that sometimes needs to be controlled and unified,? Handbury said.

Although the UMass loss is not something the team talks about, it will be something that drives them this season as they work through another challenging schedule.

?At the time I was devastated,? Handbury said. ?But it certainly is going to make myself and the team stronger. It?s not going to happen to us again, it just won?t.?