DAYTON – The University of Dayton women's soccer team will continue Atlantic 10 Conference play this week, as they will split home and away matches, beginning with a trip to Philadelphia Thursday night to take on the Saint Joseph's Hawks. Dayton will round out the week by hosting the George Mason Patriots on Sunday at Baujan Field, which will be the Flyers' senior day match, honoring the program's four senior student-athletes.
 
The Flyers enter the week with a 5-4-2 overall record on the season, having improved their Atlantic 10 record to 2-1 following two straight wins last week over La Salle and Davidson. The Flyers sit in fourth place in the A10 coming into the week, just one game back from conference-leading VCU. The ship was righted last week, as the Flyers stopped a three-match skid on Thursday with a convincing 3-0 win over La Salle. Itala Gemelli netted two goals and earned an assist in the match, allowing her to be named the Atlantic 10 Co-Player of the Week on Sept. 27^th. A Sunday 1-0 double overtime win over Davidson brought Dayton's overall and conference record back over the .500 mark headed into week three of conference play.
 
Junior Marlee Taylor continues to be the goals leader for the Flyers this season, with six total goals, four in the team's first two matches of the regular season Aug. 19 and 22. Taylor still leads the Atlantic 10 in shots on goal, averaging two per game at 24 in 12 matches played. Noel Blain is the third leading points-scorer for Dayton, as her two goals and one assist leave her with five points, just two behind Itala Gemelli. Madelyn Dewey ranks second among Atlantic 10 goalkeepers with a .631 goals against average while starting all 12 regular season matches.
 
SCOUTING SAINT JOSEPH'S
The Hawks enter Thursday's match with a 2-7-2 overall record, with both of their wins coming in Atlantic 10 play to bring their conference record to 2-1. After going winless in their first nine matches of the season, the Hawks have caught fire as of late, winning both of their matches last week by 2-0 scores, beating Davidson and Duquesne to level them with the Flyers in a tie for fourth place in the conference.
 
Goal scoring has been an issue for the Hawks thus far, with Saint Joe's not scoring a goal until the eighth match of the season on Sept. 12. The Hawks have been shut out seven times on the year, and have scored just six total goals in their 11 matches. Rachel Brown and Ashley Orendac have both scored two goals early in the season, as they lead the Hawks in points with four each. Saint Joe's averages almost two goals allowed per game at 1.91, but starting goalkeeper Katie Cappalletti's goals against average sits at 1.33, having started all 11 matches for the Hawks. Thursday's match in Philadelphia will be streaming on ESPN+.

SCOUTING GEORGE MASON
George Mason will enter the week with a 3-8 overall record and a 1-2 record in the Atlantic 10, with a Thursday home match-up against Saint Bonaventure still on the schedule. The Patriots took care of Saint Joseph's in their first conference match 2-1 on Sept. 19, but have since lost consecutive matches at UMass, and home against VCU.
 
Like the Hawks, the Patriots average almost two goals surrendered against per match, but George Mason outpaces Saint Joe's on offense, scoring just under a goal per match with 11 in their 12 matches. With their 1-2 conference record, the Patriots find themselves tied for eighth early in the season, but with an opportunity to play two teams ahead of them in the standings this week. The Patriots have three two-goal scorers this season, including Shannon Lee and Lea Spittka. Grace Hotaling is tied for the team points lead with six, as she has registered four assists and a goal early on. Both George Mason goalkeepers hold over a 2.0 goals against average, with Louisa Moser starting 10 of the 11 matches with a 2.209 GAA. Sunday's match is senior day, with seniors Hannah Osland, Alexa Holl, Lexy Kidd, and Gill Losey to be honored in a pre-match ceremony.
 
UP NEXT
The Flyers will take a full week off following Sunday's match with George Mason, as they will return to action the following Sunday, Oct. 10, to take on conference-leading VCU on the road in Virginia.