Dayton Women’s Soccer Advances to Conference Semifinal
(Photo via Carson Caprella)
Gabriel Ward | Sports Editor
DAYTON, Ohio — The top-seeded University of Dayton women’s soccer team began their postseason campaign with a 3-1 victory over the eighth-seeded La Salle Explorers at Baujan Field Friday evening.
Dayton was able to control the pace throughout the first half as the Flyers held possession for 66 percent of the frame. Despite this, La Salle was able to grab the lead in the 15th minute after an Explorers long ball was played onto the edge of the box. La Salle’s Kayden Williams and Flyers goalkeeper Batoul Reda collided, and a penalty was called.
Jostyce Hollenbach was able to capitalize for La Salle as she sent Reda the wrong way and finished the penalty to the right; it was Hollenbach’s sixth goal of the season.
Despite giving up the penalty, the pace of play continued to favor the Flyers as they were right back on the gas pedal, and eventually the pressure had a large impact on the game, as in the 21st minute yellow cards were shown to both La Salle’s Jillian Drumm and their head coach, Paul Royal. After continuing to dispute the call with the referee, Royal was then shown a red card and ejected from the match.
In the 36th minute, Dayton got on the scoreboard. After Laney Smith sent a ball into the box, Liv Grenda connected but put her first shot off the post; however, she was right there to put in the rebound to level the match at one apiece. That would be the last goal of the half, and the teams would enter the locker room all tied up at one.
The Flyers would resume right where they left off as they continued to put pressure on the La Salle defense. This pressure would result in yellow cards shown to Brianna Lewis in the 50th minute as well as Jaci Gismondi in the 62nd minute.
All of this pressure would begin to turn into goals for the Flyers, as in the 68th minute Molly Russell would send a ball into the box where Olivia Baca would slot it home. The goal was originally called off due to an offsides call. However, after a review, the call was overturned, and the Flyers went up 2-1.
Roughly 10 minutes after Baca’s goal, Karli Ferguson crossed a ball into the box from the right side of the field. Her pass would find the foot of Smith, who would slot it home and extend the Flyers’ lead to 3-1 in the 78th minute.
That would be the final action of the night as the Flyer defense would stand tall for the final 12 minutes as Dayton advanced to the Atlantic 10 semifinals with a 3-1 victory over La Salle. The victory was also Dayton head coach Eric Golz’s 100th career win at UD.
The Flyers will return to Baujan Field Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m. for the Atlantic 10 semifinal against an opponent still to be determined.