DAYTON - The No. 5/7 University of Dayton men's soccer team returns to the Atlantic 10 Championship game for the second straight year to defend its title against the No. 6 seed Saint Louis Billikens Sunday, Nov. 17 at 12 p.m. at Baujan Field.

SCOUTING THE FLYERS
Dayton boasts a record of 12-2-3 overall, tied for the fourth-most wins in program history. The nationally ranked Flyers were 5-1-2 in A-10 play during the season and have extended their winning streak to seven games. UD is 7-2-1 at home this year.

Head coach Dennis Currier is in his 20th year at Dayton and is the winningest coach in program history. He ranks eighth among active Division I coaches in career wins.

Dayton boasts one of the most prolific offenses in the country with 2.82 goals per game compared to 1.06 goals for opponents. The Flyers lead all of Division I with 20.6 shots each outing while holding opposing squads to 9.8 attempts, and at a lower percentage.

Leading the way for the Flyers is A-10 Defensive Player of the Year Hjalti Sigurdsson, A-10 Rookie of the Year Andrew Armstrong, and First Team All-Conference performer Martin Bakken with eight goals apiece. Bakken has chipped in nine assists while Sigurdsson has five as well. Graduate student goalkeeper Dario Caetano anchors the UD defense with five shutouts on the year.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
NO. 6 SAINT LOUIS
Saint Louis came into the postseason as the No. 6 seed after going 4-1-3 in A-10 play and 8-3-8 on the year. The Billikens were on a 12-game unbeaten streak before falling to the Flyers in the season finale. SLU is 3-2-5 away from home this year.

Head coach Kevin Kalish is in his seventh season at the helm of his alma mater.

As a team, Saint Louis uses more of a defensive-focused strategy, scoring 1.63 goals each outing, but holding opposing teams to just 0.74 goals and 8.0 shots per game. SLU has only given up eight assists on the year total.

The Billikens are led by A-10 Goalkeeper of the Year Jeremi Abonnel with nine shutouts and 41 saves in 18 starts. Defenders Max Floriani and Joey Maher earned First Team and Second Team honors respectively while fellow second teamer Luis Lara totaled eight goals and 17 points.

LAST OUTING
Dayton defended its home field against No. 5 seed Fordham on a rainy night at Baujan. The Flyers picked up a 2-0 shutout win over the Rams, avenging their only A-10 loss of the regular season.

Saint Louis upset top-seed George Mason on the road Wednesday night with a 2-1 win over the regular season champs. The Billikens led early and held on to clinch a spot in the title game.

SETTING THE STANDARD
Dayton leads the country in shots per game and ranks second in scoring offense and goal differential, third in total goals, and fourth in shots on goal.

Individually, Joseph Melto Quiah ranks fourth in the nation in shots per game while Martin Bakken is 12th in assists and 24th in points.

FLYERS DOMINATE SEASON AWARDS
Dayton set a new program record with 12 individual A-10 end-of-season awards. Hjalti Sigurdsson earned A-10 Defensive Player of the Year, First Team, and All-Academic team while Andrew Armstrong was A-10 Rookie of the Year, First Team, and All-Rookie. Joseph Melto Quiah and Martin Bakken joined them on the First Team with Miles Bonham and Braden Seel picking up Second Team accolades. Luis Bremaud was also All-Rookie and Bakken was named All-Acadmic as well.

WELCOME TO DAYTON
The Flyers brought in 14 new players including nine freshman for the 2024 season.

FLYERS PICKED 3RD IN PRESEASON POLL
Dayton was picked to finish third in the A-10 Preseason Poll and received three first-place votes. The Flyers were chosen behind preseason favorites VCU and Saint Louis and ahead of Loyola Chicago, Fordham, and Massachusetts.

UP NEXT
The NCAA Tournament Selection Show will take place Monday, Nov. 18 at 1 p.m.

FOLLOW #UDMSOC
Follow the Flyers on X/Twitter: DaytonMSoccer  Facebook: University of Dayton Men's Soccer and Instagram: daytonmsoccer