Late comeback caps senior night win
By: Katie Obear, Staff Writer
The University of Dayton women’s soccer team added another win to its record Saturday Oct. 19, with a 3-2 overtime thriller against Saint Louis University under the lights of Baujan Field.
On a picturesque fall evening, the team supported its 2013 seniors on senior night. Those seniors include midfielder Juliana Libertin, forward Stephanie Emery, defender Meghan Scharer, goalkeeper Jordin Melchert and defender Sarah Senoyuit, who said this was a huge victory.
“Just to know I have one more game, it’s a blessing that I’ve been here and I thank God for this opportunity and we will for sure make the most of it next game and get a final win in,” Senoyuit said.
Throughout the first half, SLU showed a strong defensive and offensive presence, scoring twice with a shot at the side of the net and a shot to the lower right corner.
However, at the start of the second half, sophomore midfielder Ashley Campbell scored the first goal for the Flyers, assisted by Libertin and sophomore midfielder Nicole Waters.
UD continued when Emery, assisted by freshman midfielder Erin O’Malley, scored within the next five minutes on a shot to the right corner of the goal.
“When we turned up the pressure, it worked for us,” said head coach Mike Tucker. “We had the momentum for most of the game.”
At the end of regulation, the score was tied 2-2.
“We knew we had to come out with heart and that’s what we did in the second half,” Senoyuit said. “We had some amazing goals and effort. Really it just shows our team can go on from adversity.”
In an intense final 10 minutes, Senoyuit made the final goal to give UD the victory.
“To see Steph and then Sarah get the game winning goal, that’s senior night and that’s what it’s all about,” Tucker said.
The win impacted freshman defender Kathleen Golterman in a different way because Saint Louis is her hometown.
“The win was bittersweet because I love SLU and Saint Louis, but at the same time, it was kind of cool to beat them and let them know Dayton is a good team,” Golterman said.
Former Flyers returned to celebrate and cheer on the team to victory during senior night.
“The recent alums made their presences known and were cheering like crazy,” Tucker said.
SLU, who had just come off a winning streak from its past three games against St. Bonaventure University, the University of Richmond and Duquesne University, is now 4-10-2 and 3-2-1 in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
The Flyers, now 10-4-1 and 5-0-0, will take on Fordham University for the team’s last home game at noon, Sunday, Oct. 27.