Two quick strikes sour men’s soccer return home

By: Jonny Jessup – Staff Writer

The Dayton men’s soccer team took the pitch Saturday night at Baujan Field to square off against the Oakland Grizzlies in the second home game of the regular season. The Flyers were 3-2 coming into this matchup and looking for their second straight win after a two-game road stint.

Flyer spirit was in the air at Baujan Field, with the bleachers hosting a cheerful crowd and Red Scare a Dayton Sunset providing a backdrop, the stage was set.

The Flyers and Grizzlies were neck and neck right from the get-go. Both teams would march down the field with possession and set up potential scoring chances. However, each team’s defenses would step up and clear the threat, keeping this contest in gridlock. Tight defense would prove to be the story of the first half, with a halftime score of 0-0.

Both teams entered the second half fighting to break the tie. After exchanging a few more scoring opportunities, the stalemate was eventually broken.

In the 62nd minute, Oakland midfielder Austin Ricci took a shot from the top of the box which found its way under the top right cross bar to beat Flyers goalkeeper Oliver Hansen.

Just under five minutes later, Oakland would strike again, this time off of a corner kick. The initial attempt rang off the crossbar, but Grizzlies forward Matt Rickard converted a header off the rebound to give Oakland a 2-0 lead.

The rest of the game would continue to be up-and-down all night. Despite a terrific effort by the Flyers in the final minutes, Oakland’s 2-0 lead would prove to be insurmountable.

The loss puts Dayton at 3-3 on the season.

Up next, the Flyers will head to Kalamazoo, Michigan, to take on the Western Michigan Broncos.