DAYTON, Ohio - The University of Dayton men's soccer team will continue the Atlantic 10 season with a showdown versus Massachusetts at 7 p.m. at Baujan Field this Saturday.

SCOUTING THE FLYERS
Dayton heads into the contest sitting two points out of first place in a tie for second with the Minutemen. Atlantic 10 Tournament seedings are on the line with both teams battling for valuable points with four games remaining in the regular season. The Flyers are 8-4-2 overall and 3-0-1 in A-10 play. Dayton is also unbeaten in the last four outings.

The Flyers are averaging a league-leading 2.29 goals per game while holding opponents to 1.14 goals each contest. Dayton is also out-shooting opposing squads 16.0-11.3 and has a corner kick advantage as well. UD boasts a .402 shots on goal percentage

Senior Amass Amankona leads the team with nine goals, 21 points, and 18 shots on target. Fellow senior Maik Schoonderwoerd has five assists to go with four goals while senior Alex Amankwaah has four assists, inluding three in the win over La Salle last outing. Junior James Haupt is second on the team with five goals and has three assists. Junior Justin Saliba has seen the most action in goal with six wins, four shutouts, and a .707 save percentage.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
MASSACHUSETTS
The Minutemen enter the weekend with a 4-10-1 record overall and a 1-7 away mark, but are unbeaten in their last four games, picking up three crucial A-10 victories. UMass has wins over La Salle, St. Bonaventure, and Rhode Island this season under first-year head coach Fran O'Leary.

As a team, the Minutemen are scoring 0.80 goals per game and giving up 1.93 to opponents on the season. UMass is being out-shot by opposing squads 14.5-10.3, but has narrowed that gap in conference play. In the last four outings, the Minutemen have recorded seven of their 12 goals this season.

Leading the way for UMass are senior Mark Morris, who has three goals and an assist, and freshman Kevin Boino, who has three goals and two game-winners. Junior Ty Goncalves and sophomore Alex Desantis have chipped in three assists apiece as well. Goalkeepers Jorge Becerra and Bardia Asefnia have split time in goal, totaling 54 saves and 29 goals allowed.

THE SERIES
The Flyers and Minutemen have played 19 times in the series history with Dayton winning 10 of those meetings. In the most recent meeting, UD picked up a 4-1 win over UMass on the road in 2014. Junior Rafael Gamboa, Haup, and Amankona were all on the scoresheet that day for the Flyers. The last time the Minutemen came out on top was back in 2007, prior to a six-game unbeaten streak for UD.

LAST OUTING
Dayton cruised to a huge 5-0 victory over La Salle to remain unbeaten in conference play last Saturday. UD got a hat trick from Amankona as well as three assists and a goal from Amankwaah. Saliba picked up the shutout with a clutch save on a PK in the 89th minute.

UMass is coming off a 2-1 win over La Salle on Wednesday, the third A-10 victory for the Minutemen this season. A goal in each half powered UMass to the close win after a brace by Will Ellis came on a pair of penalty kicks.

LEADING THE WAY
The Flyers are having a stellar season offensively, leading the Atlantic 10 in shots (16.00), points (6.64), goals (2.29), assists (2.07), and corner kicks (6.64).

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
Dayton has out-scored opponents 15-0 over its past three home games, including a 6-0 win over Bowling Green on Sept. 23. The Flyers are 4-1 in games at home as well, outscoring opponents 19-3. UD hasn't allowed a goal at home since Sept. 12 (vs. Oakland).

OFFENSIVE POWERHOUSE
The Flyers have been a force on the offensive side of the ball this season, ranking in the top 20 nationally in numerous statistical categories. Dayton currently ranks sixth in points per game (6.64), total goals (32), and total points (93). UD is also 13th in assists per game (2.07), eighth in scoring offense (2.29), and 11th in total assists (29).

AMANKONA NAMED C0-PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Dayton fifth-year senior Amass Amankona was named Atlantic 10 Co-Player of the Week on Sept. 21 and Oct. 19 after scoring three goals in both weeks prior.
Amankona now ranks first in the A-10 in points (21), and goals (9), ranking 15th and 12th in the nation respectively.

FLYER SUCCESS
The Dayton men's program has an overall record of 466-396-78 and three NCAA tournament appearances in its history. The Flyers are also 119-79-23 in the Atlantic 10 Conference and have six conference titles between the regular season and league tournament.

UP NEXT
The Flyers will make-up their game against Saint Joseph's on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. at Baujan Field. The game was originally scheduled for Oct. 10, but travel issues postponed the game.


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