DAYTON – The Dayton Flyers women's soccer team will play their final non-conference road match Thursday, as they will be in Lexington, KY to take on the Kentucky Wildcats Thursday night, and will return home to Baujan Field Sunday for a match against the IUPUI Jaguars. Thursday's match is set to kick off at 7 p.m., and can be live streamed on SEC Network+ using ESPN+ credentials. Sunday's match is set for a 1 p.m. kick-off at Baujan Field, and attendance is free.
SCOUTING KENTUCKY
Kentucky enters Thursday's match with a 2-1-1 overall record in the 2021 season, coming off of a Sunday loss at #15 USF by a 2-1 margin. The Wildcats' potent offense is led by junior forward Jordyn Rhodes from nearby South Lebanon, Ohio. Rhodes has four goals in Kentucky's first four matches, including a hat trick in a match against Marshall on Aug. 22. UK's defense has had a solid showing in it's first four matches, averaging less than a goal per game allowed (0.75 G/game). The Flyers and Wildcats have played seven previous matches prior to Thursday, with Kentucky holding a 4-2-1 overall advantage over UD. The Flyers last defeated UK in 2011, a 2-1 triumph held at Baujan Field. Dayton is 0-4 in all-time road matches against Kentucky.
SCOUTING IUPUI
The Jaguars enter the week with a 1-2 overall mark, with a Thursday visit to the Butler Bulldogs still slated. The road has not been kind to the Jags early on, with both of their losses early in the season coming away from Indianapolis. IUPUI plays a wide open style, having scored eight goals and allowed seven in the first three matches of the year. Senior midfielder Elizabeth Bueckers has led the Jags offense early on, scoring four of her side's eight goals. Sunday's match will be the first of all-time between the two sides, Dayton's first unique opponent of the season.
FLYER FACTS
Dayton enters the week with a 3-1 record, having had their season-opening three-match winning streak snapped Sunday in Toledo. The Flyers earned a win Thursday in a thrilling contest to open the home portion of the schedule at Baujan Field against Northern Kentucky, as
Itala Gemelli scored her first goal of the season to tie the match in the 82
nd minute. After an NKU handball in the box in overtime,
Lexy Kidd stepped up to the penalty spot and sent Baujan Field into a frenzy, netting the golden goal to seal a Flyers victory. Dayton couldn't carry that momentum on the road, however, as they would fall to Toledo 1-0 on Sunday, while still out-shooting the Rockets 7-3.
Marlee Taylor continues to lead the Flyers with four goals on the year, while not having scored in Dayton's two matches last week. Dayton's defense has been a high point all season, allowing only two goals total thus far, and only averaging 4.8 total shots per game.
