The men's soccer season is winding down and this weekend features two pivotal contests in their quest for a second straight Atlantic-10 Championship.

 The Flyers are currently 9-4-1 and 4-1-0 in the Atlantic-10 and take on two of the top teams in the conference this weekend. Play begins Friday night at 7 p.m. for Dayton's Senior Night at Baujan Field as they take on undefeated and nationally ranked Charlotte.  

 Continuing play this weekend, the Flyers will take on the rival St. Louis Bilikens Sunday at 1 p.m.

These games will begin the descent of the final season for many of the top contributors to the men's soccer team. After this weekend, the team hosts Xavier next weekend as well as traveling to St. Bonaventure on November 6 for the make-up of a postponed game. A top six finish will bring the team to the conference tournament for a third straight year.

 Currently in his fifth year at the helm of the UD men's soccer program, head coach Dennis Currier mentioned how proud he is of the state of the team today. Just three years ago, the team was 6-9-2 overall and finished with a lowly 2-5-2 record within the Atlantic-10 Conference. Flash forward to last season and the team advanced to the NCAA Tournament on the heels of an impressive 15-4-3 overall record.

 Zach Weiss, a senior midfielder from St. Louis, was the player that provided the game-winner in 2008's championship contest He recalls fond memories of the night in Pittsburgh last November, and it brought a smile to his face when asked to describe the scene.

"For a time like that," Weiss said, "it was huge both for me and clearly the team as well."

 Not only was the A-10 final a huge thrill for the team, but there was also a key stretch against both of these two teams during the regular season that helped to push the team farther along. A successful road trip against Charlotte and St. Louis in late October garnered the Flyers a win and a tie, helping to push them into the conference tournament as the no. 3 seed.

 "This is a massive weekend at home for us, especially with Charlotte coming in ranked number nine in the nation," Currier said. "These games will dictate whether we are merely a good team or a great team."

The keys for this weekend, according to Currier, are most importantly individual and team defending. Both Charlotte and St. Louis are in the top tier of goal-scoring teams in the A-10, and thus it will be important to see how the Flyers respond defensively. Two other keys to victory Currier mentioned were transitioning and the team's ability to finish their offensive chances.

 Recalling the memories of his seniors this season, Coach Currier grew sentimental about the improving nature of the team.

"They have meant a great deal to me and were my first full recruiting class," he said in recognition of this year's collection of seniors. "This group elevated the Dayton soccer program and created a winning culture, both on and off the field."

 Senior defender Randy Dennis has made 62 out of a possible 64 starts in his illustrious Dayton career, and he emphasized the importance of the remaining schedule this season. He said the team knows they have to succeed this weekend in order to advance into the A-10 Tournament. According to the dreadlocked Dennis, the team understands how every game matters beginning this weekend and then finishing with Xavier and St. Bonaventure.

 Mentioning how nationally ranked Charlotte is undefeated on the season, he also made sure to say that his sights are clearly on the task-at-hand.

 "We have to focus on Friday, that is probably going to be the toughest remaining game," he said.

In looking back at the four years at Dayton, Weiss also said his favorite memories are simply the "Friday Nights at Baujan." The key for him this weekend is the ability of the team to capitalize on their home court just as they have for the past three years.

 "It will be important to come out prepared, excited and relaxed on the field," he said.