Dayton Flyers

Aug. 16, 2008

Dayton, Ohio - The Red and White Game did not disappoint. The Dayton women's soccer team put on quite a show for the more than a 1,000 fans that came out to support the Flyers in their intrasquad scrimmage Saturday night at Baujan Field. The Red team came away with a hard fought 3-2 victory.
 
Junior Mandi Back provided plenty of spark for the Red Flyers, scoring two goals and dishing an assist.
It was the UD White squad that struck first in the 10th minute as sophomore Jerica DeWolfe found the back of the net with a one-touch finish off the baseline cross from freshman Brittany Persaud.

"The girls knew the returning players would hold their own but it was the freshmen that they were unsure about prior to the game," said Head Coach Mike Tucker. "They presented themselves with poise under pressure. I was happy with the overall level of play of all the players."

Back got Red on the board in the 20th minute, beating a defender and blasting a shot past the keeper far post.

The Red squad took the lead for good on junior Caitlin Proffitt's goal at the 37:16 mark. Back helped set up the goal by dribbling to the baseline and crossing into the box as a streaking Proffitt finished it off.

"They created better opportunities throughout the game," said Tucker. "We are going to have more scoring options this season."

Back scored the game-winner, a similar goal to the one she had in the first period, in the 56th minute of the contest. She beat a defender with speed and a deft move to the left before beating the keeper on a low strike to the corner of the net.

With about a minute left to play in the second period, redshirt sophomore Cara Cornacchia bent a ball past a wall and into the net on a direct free kick to bring the White team within, 3-2.

After playing two, 30-minute halves, the coaches implemented another 15-minute period and both defenses held their ground.

"This season the team is going to be more athletic with much more depth," said Tucker. "Their success will depend on how hard the team is willing to compete. They need to play strong teams to see how they face adversity, but I believe our chances of being good are really high."

The Flyers host Indiana in their season opener this Friday, Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Baujan Field.