DAYTON - The University of Dayton women's soccer team returns to the friendly confines of Baujan Field Sunday, Aug. 20 to host the University of Cincinnati at 6 p.m.
Second Half Surge
• After not scoring a goal for the first 65 minutes of the 2023 opener against Loyola Maryland, the Flyers' offense erupted for four second-half goals. In fact, UD scored three goals in a span of 10 minutes of game time.
Senior Connection
• UD scored its first goal of the season thanks to a beautiful re-directed header from senior
Madison Wilson. Fellow senior Diani Benigno set up the score with a beautiful feed into the box to get the assist.
From Downtown!
• Fifth-year
Marlee Taylor notched her fourth-career game-winning goal when she blasted a shot from over 25 feet out to beat the keeper. It was the first goal for Taylor since the 2021 season (vs. Richmond, Oct. 31).
Ferguson's First
• Sophomore
Karli Ferguson notched her first career goal in the 75th minute of Thursday's contest. The Chicago native converted on a Greyhounds' turnover and beat two defenders plus the keeper to tally her first finish.
Sticking With It
• Dayton's final goal came courtesy of a timely rebound from
Mairin Wessner, who punched in a deflection off the left post from a
Kyra Karfonta shot.
Dayton's Dominance Continues
• Since head coach
Eric Golz took over in 2017, the Flyers are 5-1-1 in season openers, outscoring opponents 19-8.
Tonight's Promotions
• Tonight is Youth Night at Baujan Field, which includes a Dayton Flyer water bottle giveaway as well as post-match autographs.
Series History
• Sunday marks the first time UD and UC have played one another in seven seasons, last playing in the 2016 season opener. The Bearcats won that showdown, 2-1, in double overtime, and hold the all-time edge in the series at 13-6-1.
• Though losing the last matchup, Dayton has won two of the last three matches against Cincinnati and four of the last six.
• The Bearcats hold the all-time edge when playing at Baujan (5-3-1), but have not won in the Gem City since 1995.
• UD and UC last played at Bajaun Field in the 2013 season (Dayton won, 3-1).
Scouting the Flyers
• Dayton saw four different players score its four goals in the 2023 opener (Wilson, Taylor, Ferguson, Wessner) and two different players register assists (Benigno, Karfonta).
• The Flyers' defense limited Loyola Maryland's offense to 10 shots (six on-goal) in the opener, with sophomore
Batoul Reda stopping five shots.
Scouting the Bearcats
• Cincinnati comes into the match with an 0-1-1 record on the campaign, having lost to No. 17 Michigan State 1-0 in the 2023 opener.
• Three-time American Athletic Conference Player of the Year and four-time AAC First Team All-Conference Honoree Ashley Barron is back for her fifth season as a Bearcat. She is the first Bearcat to earn four First Team All-Conference honors in a career. The defender recorded over 1,400 minutes played for the third time in her career (1,486 minutes). She scored a career-high two goals on 24 shots (7 on goal).
• The Bearcats had three players tied for the most goals on the team in 2022 and two of the three players, junior Paige Miller and sophomore Megan Smith, return for Cincinnati and lead the goal-scoring efforts.
• UC returns three players that started all 17 games last season: graduate students Ashley Barron and Kendall Battle and senior Anna Rexford.
Up Next
The Flyers continue their four-match home stand to start the regular season Thursday, Aug. 24 when they welcome the University of Louisville to Baujan for a 7 p.m. match.
