HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY.– The University of Dayton women's soccer team competed in their first road match of the season on Thursday night, as they traveled across the Ohio River to take on the Northern Kentucky Norse of the Horizon League.
 
The Flyers improved to 2-0-1 on the season with a 3-0 victory Thursday, while the Norse fell to 0-2 with the defeat. The Flyers remain unbeaten against NKU in the all-time series, as they now boast a 3-0 record.
 
KEY MOMENT
During a mostly balanced first half, both teams searched for a breakthrough in the early moments of the game. Itala Gemelli gave the Flyers that breakthrough in the ninth minute of the match, as she tallied her second goal of the season to put the Flyers on top for good.
 
SCORING BREAKDOWN
 
FIRST HALF
Gemelli benefitted from a perfect pass off the foot of Diana Benigno in the ninth minute, giving the Flyers an early one-goal lead on her first assist of the campaign. Just 18 match minutes later, Gemelli found herself in the box yet again with the ball on her left foot, and made no hesitation as she powered the ball past the keeper, giving the Flyers a 2-0 advantage that they would carry into the locker room.
 
SECOND HALF
Benigno would not be denied on the score sheet, as she would contribute another assist, this time on a Jessica Sheldon goal, to kick off the second half in the 50^th minute. The Flyers would go on to register four times as many shots (16-4) and shots on goal (8-2) as the Norse, and Batoul Reda made a dazzling save in the 86^th minute to keep the clean sheet for the Flyers.
 
UP NEXT
The Flyers return home this weekend, as they will play host to the Kent State Golden Flashes Sunday afternoon at Baujan Field. Kick-off is set for 1:00 p.m., and the match will be live streamed on ESPN+.