Nov. 10, 2007

Box Score

Charlotte, NC - The University of Dayton women's soccer team saw its season come to an end in dramatic fashion falling in a penalty kick shootout (4-3) to the Fordham Rams in the Atlantic 10 Championship Semifinals on Friday night at Transamerica Field in Charlotte, NC. The Flyers conclude their 2007 season with a 13-4-4 record.

"I thought we could have put another goal away in the first half," Dayton's coach Mike Tucker said. "We had some great opportunities. We have hit the inside of the post about 20 times this year and not one has rolled in and that's the story of our season. I am disappointed for our seniors to not get to play in another NCAA tournament. I thought we were the better team today and it's a shame that we were not able to advance in that case, but you need to have a little luck on our side and it wasn't there today. Give Fordham credit, they battled and did their thing, but all there is now is disappointment."

Similar to Thursday night's game, the Flyers got on board early 20 minutes into the game on a tap-in right in front of the goal by senior Kristen Persichini. After her first shot was denied by the crossbar, Persichini came out on the winning end of a five person scramble to net her fourth goal of the season and the 12th of her career.

Bäck nearly put Dayton up by two nine minutes later when header off a cross by freshman Kelly Blumenschein pinged off the crossbar and out of play.

Dayton controlled possession for most of the second half but it was a crucial turnover that led to a quick counter by Fordham into the Flyers final third of the field. Ram's forward Katie Sanchez drove a hard shot that Niki Reed got a hand on but the rebound went right to Courtney Fedge who cracked the ball into the back of the net to even the game at one apiece with 15:42 left in the game.

Bäck had a couple of breakaway chances in both overtimes but one shot was high and another was denied by Fordham goalkeeper Elizabeth Roald who made six saves in the match.

Reed had seven of her own, as the 2007 A-10 Defensive Player of the Year ends her outstanding career number three on the UD all-time shutout list with 14.

After the two overtime periods ended with the score tied at one, the teams went into a penalty kick shootout. Dayton won the coin toss and chose to kick second.

After Dayton made three of its first four kicks (Sirmans, Cornacchia, Bäck) and Fordham three of its five, all Dayton needed was a make by Reed to win the game, but Reed's shot hit the inside of the post and bounced out setting up a sudden death penalty kick.

In the sudden death shootout, Fordham's Kim Boulos stepped up and connected on her attempt. It was then up to Dayton senior Alli Foust to even the tally but Foust's shot went wide right of the goal, giving the Ram's the win and sending them into the A-10 Championship Final to face Charlotte on Sunday.

The Flyers out-shot the Rams, 22-14, while putting seven on frame in 110 minutes of play.