DAYTON - The University of Dayton women's soccer team will open the 2024 season in Baltimore as it takes on Loyola Maryland on Thursday. The Flyers and Greyhounds are set to kickoff at 7 p.m. Aug. 15 at Loyola's Ridley Athletic Complex.

ABOUT DAYTON
Dayton is coming off two exhibitions matches last week, including the Flyers' final tuneup Saturday night against Ball State under the lights at Baujan Field. UD earned the second spot on the 2024 A-10 Preseason Poll and the Flyers are led by Preseason All-Conference members midfielder Diana Benigno and defender Kyra Karfonta.

SCOUTING LOYOLA MARYLAND
Loyola Maryland went 9-2 at home last season and finished in third place in conference standings. Picked to finish fourth in the Patriot League in 2024, the Greyhounds are led by Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Baylee DeSmit.

SERIES STUFF
Dayton has won all three meetings between the two squads. Most recently, the Flyers defeated the Greyhounds by a 4-1 margin at Baujan Field on Aug. 17, 2023. UD junior forward Mairin Wessner scored one of the Flyers' four goals in the win over the Greyhounds.

FLYER FACTS
• Eric Golz is in his eighth season as head coach of the Flyers in 2024. His record at Dayton is 72-45-16 (.602) and his career win-loss mark sits at 92-61-21 (.589) over a total of 10 seasons. Golz has tallied the program's second-most wins, behind Mike Tucker who had 313 wins over 22 seasons (1995-2016) at Dayton.
• Dayton has won the Atlantic 10 Regular Season title 11 times (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2013). The Flyers have captured the A-10 Championship title 10 times (1996, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016). Over 28 appearances in the A-10 Tournament, UD has tallied a 34-11-5 record in the conference postseason championship.
• The Flyers finished the 2023 season with a 13-2-5 overall record and a 7-0-3 conference mark, finishing in third place in regular-season play.
• Top returners: Diana Benigno (Gr., MF), Noel Blain (Sr. F), Kyra Karfonta (Jr., F), Ella Raimondi (Jr., D/MF), Batoul Reda (Jr. GK)

2024 ATLANTIC 10 PRESEASON POLL AND ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Dayton was chosen to finish second in the 2024 Atlantic 10 Conference's annual Preseason Poll, behind 12th-ranked Saint Louis, as announced on Aug. 14 ahead of the start of the regular season. The Flyers are led by Preseason All-Conference members midfielder Diana Benigno and defender Kyra Karfonta. Benigno led the Flyers in assists on the season with six, finishing in a tie for third in the league. Benigno was named A-10 Co-Offensive Player of the Week during the season after scoring the game-tying goal at Saint Louis and registering an assist against Davidson. Karfonta registered three goals and an assist for seven total points last season and was a key member of the Dayton defense that posted 11 shutouts on the season.

LAST TIME OUT
Thursday's match at Loyola Maryland is Dayton's first regular season game of 2024, kicking off the program's 41st season of intercollegiate competition.

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