DAYTON – The University of Dayton women's soccer team will get set to hit the road this week for the first time this regular season, as they will travel to nearby Highland Heights, Ky. to take on Northern Kentucky Thursday before returning home to face off against Kent State on Sunday.
 
The Flyers opened the 2022 regular season on Thurs., Aug. 18, as they hosted the Toledo Rockets. In a hard-fought opening match, the Flyers battled their way to a 2-2 draw. Following this draw on opening night, the Flyers welcomed the Wright State Raiders to Baujan Field on Sunday, Aug. 21. After Itala Gemelli scored her first goal of the 2022 season in the seventh minute, the Flyers would dominate possession as well as the shot chart, and add one more to the tally on an own goal to win the match 2-0.
 
SCOUTING NORTHERN KENTUCKY
The Norse will be eager to return to NKU Soccer Stadium on Thursday, as they will play their first home match of the year, including the preseason when they played matches at Coulmbia State and South Alabama. NKU opened the regular season last Thursday on the road against Cincinnati, a match they would lose by a 2-0 final score.
 
Norse head coach Bob Sheehan enters his 25th season in 2022, and is the lone head coach in Northern Kentucky history. Sheehan's 2021 outfit went 10-8-2 overall, and reached the Horizon League semifinals before falling to #2 seed Oakland. NKU landed at #3 in the Horizon League preseason poll, and they will expect big contributions from reigning Freshman of the Year Lydia Self, as well as All-League First Team selection from a year ago Kaya Vogt.
 
SCOUTING KENT STATE
The Golden Flashes will enter Sunday's match well-rested, as they will not play a mid-week match before traveling to Baujan Field. The blue and gold have had a sluggish start to the regular season, opening the campaign 0-1-1 in two matches at their home, Dix Stadium.
 
The Golden Flashes, entering their 25^th season of competition, are anchored in the back by 2021 MAC Defensive Player of the Year in fifth year senior Tianna Harris. Harris was picked as a United Soccer Coaches Preseason Player to Watch, and will help guide the way transitioning to Kent State's younger attacking core.
 
POINTS PRODUCTION
Junior forward and 2021 Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year Itala Gemelli has picked up right where she left off a season ago, when she led the Flyers with 28 points. The Rochester, Mich. native is already pacing the way for the Flyers offensively, as her and fellow Michigan product Noel Blain lead the team with three points (a goal and an assist) each. Senior forward Laney Huber opened the scoring for the regular season for Dayton with a goal just 21 minutes into their match against Toledo.