XENIA, Ohio – The University of Dayton women's soccer team, defending Atlantic 10 regular season and tournament champions, will report to camp today for its preseason training to prepare for the 2010 campaign. The Flyer coaching staff of head coach Mike Tucker and his assistants, Sergio Gonzalez, Tania Armellino and George Demetriades welcomes 18 returning players and 10 freshmen for preseason testing, drills, and training at Athletes in Action in Xenia, Ohio.
"We are always so excited to get started this time of year," said Tucker. "We have prepped so much leading up to this day and now it's time to roll the ball out."
The team reports to the campus of Athletes in Action on Aug. 4 at 4:30 p.m. ET.
The Flyers return a highly-touted group of five seniors: forwards Kelly Blumenschein, Jerica DeWolfe, Alli Giner, Tori Oelschlager and Lisa Rodgers. UD also returns five juniors: Kathleen Beljan, Josie Grant, Emily Kenyon, Kelsey Miller and Kelsey Owen.
The eight sophomore returners include: Katherine Boone, Shannon Donoher, Linsey Eckel, Alexis Garcia, Maggie Hinkle, Alysha Mallon, Jackie Thompson and Colleen Williams. The incoming freshman class is 10 strong: Sunni Clyse, Stephanie Emery, Juliana Libertin, Meghan McGrath, Jordin Melchert, Maggie Murnane, Nicole Peterson, Megan Scharer, Sarah Senoyuit and Andrea Todak.
"We have a great group of returning players and the incoming freshmen are quality young women in every sense of the word,” said Tucker. “I’m pleased with our newcomers and I’d stack them up against anyone in the league."
“We’re deep and we’re good,” added Tucker. “We have a great defense which is always a nice starting point.”
The Atlantic 10 has taken note. Dayton led the league six selections to the A-10 Preseason All-Conference and All-Rookie Teams.
The Flyers took three of the five defensive spots. Reigning A-10 Defensive Player of the Year sophomore Katherine Boone was the choice at goalkeeper, while junior defenders Kathleen Beljan and Kelsey Miller were also selected to the preseason team. The 2009 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year Colleen Williams was chosen as one of the midfielders to the preseason team. Juliana Libertin and Maggie Murname represented Dayton on the A-10 preseason All-Rookie team.
The Flyers have less than a week to gear up for their first competition. UD will face the Big East Conference's Louisville in an exhibition match Tuesday, Aug. 10 at Baujan Field at 2 p.m. ET. Admission is free to all UD soccer matches at Baujan Field.
The Flyers look to earn their 15th consecutive berth to the Atlantic 10 Women's Soccer Championship and defend their 2009 title. The 2010 conference tournament will be hosted at Rhode Island Nov. 4-7.
Dayton loses just three starters from a squad that finished the 2009 campaign with a 16-1-6 record, including an unbeaten regular season mark of 14-0-5. The Flyers captured the 2009 A-10 regular season and tournament titles and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
