DAYTON - The No. 5/2 University of Dayton men's soccer team will host the third round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. against No. 12 seed SMU. Fans are urged to purchase tickets early as a full crowd is expected at Baujan Field coming off a record attendance last game.

SCOUTING THE FLYERS
Dayton is riding a nine-match winning streak and has a 14-2-3 record on the season with a 7-2 home mark. The Flyers are one win shy of tying a program record set back in 2008, and are also one shy of tying the record for consecutive shutouts.

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 has one of the most dangerous attacks in the nation, leading the country with 20.9 shots per game and averaging 2.79 goals each contest. The Flyers are limiting opposing teams to 0.965 goals and have been playing their best defense as of late.

The Flyers have five players with eight goals on the season, showing just how balanced this attack has been this year. A-10 First Team Martin Bakken leads the way with eight goals and 10 assists while A-10 Defender of the Year Hjalti Sigurdsson has eight goals and seven assists from the back line. Seniors Joseph Melto Quiah and Ethan Sassine join A-10 Rookie of the Year Andrew Armstrong as eight-goal scorers as well.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
SMU
No. 15/9 SMU comes to Dayton as the No. 12 seed in the bracket and holds a record of 11-2-6 on the year. The Mustangs found the majority of their success at home with nine wins, but are 2-1 on the road this season. SMU holds marquee wins over No. 6 Saint Louis, No. 13 Virginia Tech, and Washington.

Head coach Kevin Hudson has 10 NCAA Tournament appearances in his 19 years as an assistant and head coach at his alma mater.

As a team, the Mustangs are scoring 1.74 goals per game and holding opposing squads to just 1.26 each outing. SMU is out-shooting opponents 13.9 to 10.6 and at a higher percentage.


First Team All-ACC honoree Bailey Spark directs the offensive attack with team-highs of eight goals and seven assists while All-ACC Third Team selection Kyran Chambron Pinho added five goals and five assists. Goalkeeper Martin Dominguez has recorded five shutouts and 47 saves in 14 starts.

LAST OUTING
Dayton earned its first berth in the NCAA Third Round with a 2-0 win at home over Michigan last Sunday. Ethan Sassine scored both goals for the Flyers, one in each half, as they earned the shutout win.

SMU rallied from a 1-0 deficit to Washington with the tying goal in the 30th minute and the game-winner in the 89th to keep its postseason alive.

SETTING THE STANDARD
Dayton leads the country in shots per game and shots on goal while ranking top 5 in goal differential, scoring offense, and total goals.

Individually, Martin Bakken ranks sixth nationally in assists and 26th in points while Hjalti Sigurdsson is 15th in game-winning goals and Joseph Melto Quiah ranks first in shots per game.

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.

UP NEXT
If victorious Sunday, the Flyers will host the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. at Baujan.

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