DAYTON - The University of Dayton men's soccer team returns to Atlantic 10 action this Saturday at home against Massachusetts at 7 p.m. at Baujan Field. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.

SCOUTING THE FLYERS
Dayton is looking to gain momentum in conference play after a 0-1-0 record so far in A-10 games and 3-5-2 overall. The Flyers are 2-1-1 at home this year, but currently riding a three-game skid.

Head coach Dennis Currier is in his 17th year at the helm of the Flyers and the reigning Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year. UD replaces just one starter from last year's team that went on to win the A-10 regular season title with a 4-1-1 conference mark.

As a team, the Flyers are averaging 1.30 goals per game and giving up 1.90 goals to opponents. Dayton is being outshot 12.7 to 15.0 each contest.

Leading the way for the Flyers is junior transfer Forster Ajago with four goals and one assist. Senior Kingsford Adjei and junior Jaden Jones-Riley have both chipped in three goals and two assists each as well. Sophomore goalkeeper Marc Kouadio has 41 saves and all 10 starts between the posts.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
MASSACHUSETTS
UMass comes to Dayton with a 7-2-1 record on the season and 1-1 A-10 mark. The Minutemen are on a three-game winning streak and undefeated on the road this season at 5-0.

Head coach Fran O'Leary is in his seventh year in Amherst, but has 29 seasons of head coaching experience. He guided UMass to the NCAA Second Round this past spring.

As a team, the Minutemen score 1.6 goals each outing and hold opposing squads to 1.0 goal per game. UMass is even with opponents at around 12.6 shots each contest., but shoots at a higher percentage.

The main offensive threat for the Minutemen is reigning A-10 Offensive Player of the Week Filippo Begliardi Ghidini, who ranks second in the league with six goals to go with his two assists this season. Joe Leslie has added four goals and an assist in seven games of action while Yosuke Hanya is tied for third in the A-10 with four assists. Goalkeeper Marvyn Dorchin has two shutouts in 10 starts.

LAST OUTING
Dayton played its second Top 10 team in the past three games, facing No. 10 Kentucky at home Wednesday to wrap-up non-conference play. The Flyers fell 3-1 despite controlling most of the second half. Adjei provided the goal.

UMass earned a 1-0 victory over Yale on Tuesday on the road. Filippo Ghidiini Begliardi scored the game-winner in the 87th minute to earn the seventh win of the year for the Minutemen.

SERIES HISTORY
Dayton and UMass have met 24 times in series history with the Flyers earning 13 wins to the Minutemen's nine victories. In the last match-up in 2019, UD opened the A-10 season with a 2-0 win at home.

JONES-RILEY EARNS A-10 OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Junior Jaden Jones-Riley was named Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Week on Aug. 30 after his hat-trick performance in the season-opening win over UAB. He totaled seven points during the two-game stretch.

FLYERS THIRD IN PRESEASON POLL
Dayton was predicted to finish third in the A-10 in the 2021 preseason poll and received two first-place votes. The Flyers were picked behind conference favorites Fordham (six first-place votes) and Saint Louis (three votes), but ahead of Massachusetts and VCU (two votes).

ADJEI NAMED PRESEASON FIRST TEAM
The Atlantic 10 preseason all-conference teams announced as well with Dayton senior Kingsford Adjei earning All-Conference team honors. He was the lone Flyer recognized on the team from the reigning A-10 champs.

INTERNATIONAL FLAIR
Dayton historically has had a diverse team with players hailing from all over the globe. This season is no different with the Flyers having student-athletes from 10 different countries.

UP NEXT
The Flyers continue A-10 play heading back out on the road to take on George Washington Wednesday, Oct. 6. It will be a day game with kickoff at 1 p.m. ET.