Flyers defeat Michigan, advance to Sweet 16
(Photo via @daytonmsoccer Instagram)
Gabriel Ward | Contributing Writer
A record crowd of 2,513 fans crowded into Baujan Field on Sunday to see the No. 5 seed Dayton Flyers (14-2-3) take on the University of Michigan (9-5-7) in the second round of the NCAA Division I men’s soccer tournament.
Dayton came into this game with some rest, as they received a first-round bye from the NCAA selection committee. Michigan, on the other hand, hosted Robert Morris on Nov. 21, where they took down the Colonials 2-0 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The game got off to a fast start as both squads combined for nine shots in the first 32 minutes of the match. After a Flyers threat led to advantage being played and a controversial decision by the referee not to show a card to the Wolverines, resulting in a yellow card shown to Dayton goalkeeper Dario Caetano for dissent, the Flyers would capitalize on the ensuing corner as Dayton defender Geni Kanyane fired the ball in, finding the head of forward Ethan Sassine, who put it home, giving the Flyers a 1-0 lead in the 39th minute.
Despite there being plenty of action after the Flyers goal, including four shots by Dayton in four minutes, the score would stay 1-0 through the remainder of the half.
The Flyers came out of the locker room looking to extend the lead early as, after a couple of corners, Flyers’ defender Hjalti Sigurdsson was able to find fellow defender Luis Bremaud right in front of the net, but Bremaud sent the ball over the goal with his head. Immediately after the missed shot, Michigan goalkeeper Isaiah Goldson turned the ball over on the goal kick, gifting the Flyers another golden opportunity. However, Sassine was unable to convert as his shot flew over the goal as well.
In the 60th minute, the Wolverines would threaten as Michigan midfielder Duilio Herrera sent the ball into the box, where midfielder Patrick O’Toole played it off Kanyane. The Wolverines would appeal to the referee for a handball, but it would not be given.
Shortly after the Wolverines’ opportunity, Dayton would add on another goal. As in the 61st minute, Flyers’ forward Felix Buabeng played the ball to Sigurdsson, who was then able to connect with Sassine in the box. Sassine’s shot took a deflection off Michigan defender Nolan Miller and sneaked past Goldson for Sassine’s second goal of the day, putting the Flyers up 2-0.
With their season on the line and injuries starting to pile up, Michigan would make three substitutions. Two substitutions came in the 79th minute and one in the 81st minute, the first of which was prompted by Wolverines defender Jonathan Nabaka being struck by a shot in the head and the third due to a lower-body injury to Michigan midfielder Jason Bucknor. Shortly after the substitutions, Michigan would do everything but score, as Wolverines’ forward Beto Soto would find forward Uriel Zeitz in the box, who would head the ball off the post.
The Flyers would hold on for the remainder of the match and win 2-0. With the win, Dayton advances to the round of 16, the farthest the program has ever gone.
The Flyers will face the 12 seed SMU Mustangs at Baujan Field on Saturday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. The winner of that match will then play the winner of 13 seed Marshall and NC State at home in the quarterfinals.