Dayton men’s soccer comeback comes up short in 3-1 loss to No. 10 Kentucky

Eren Elbustu, who transferred from Campbell University prior to this season (pictured against Incarnate Word Sept. 4) scored his first goal for the Flyers in Wednesday’s 3-1 loss. Photo courtesy of UD Athletics.

Jamie Blodgett | Contributing Writer

On Wednesday, Sept. 29, the Dayton Flyers hosted the No. 10 Kentucky Wildcats in their final non-conference match of the season.

The Flyers entered the contest with a 3-4-2 record and had been held winless in their last five matches (0-4-1), having been outscored 12-1.  The Winged Eleven needed their best effort facing an undefeated and 10th ranked Kentucky squad.  Kentucky brought a 5-0-2 mark to Baujan Field.  Dayton led the all-time series with the Wildcats 2-1 with the Flyers winning the last meeting in 2012 by a score 4-3.

Kentucky charged out to a 2-0 lead with goals in the 12th and 16th minute of the match.  Looking overmatched in the early going, the Flyers continued to play hard and went to the half with the same 2 goal deficit. 

Dayton struck back in the 70th minute on a beautiful header from senior attacking midfielder Eren Elbustu off an assist from junior midfielder Andy Sanchez.  Kentucky was able to counter in the 76th minute as the Flyers were pushing forward to try to even the match making the final 3-1 in favor of the Wildcats.

“I felt that we put up a good performance in the second half,” Sanchez said. “We were getting a lot of set pieces and with the big guys we have on the team, I was trying to put in good deliveries and let my teammates compete.”

The Flyers next entertain UMass, who comes to Baujan Field Oct. 2 with a 7-2-1 record.  

For more sports news like Flyer News on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@FlyerNews & @FlyerNewsSports) and Instagram (@flyernews).