DAYTON - The University of Dayton women's soccer team will close out its three-match homestand Thursday as it plays host to DI newcomer Mercyhurst. The Flyers and Lakers are set to kickoff at 7 p.m. Aug. 29 at Baujan Field.

ABOUT DAYTON
Dayton (2-1) is coming off a 1-1 week after shutting out Cleveland State, 4-0, on Wednesday, and faltering to then-No. 19 Xavier, 3-0, on Sunday. Thursday's match against Mercyhurst is UD's third straight at home after starting the season on the road at Loyola Maryland. Freshman Liv Grenda leads the Flyers' offense with three goals (t-2nd A-10), six points (t-4th A-10) and 10 shots (t-3rd A-10). All members of the junior class, defenders Ella Raimondi (260 min.), Kyra Karfonta (253 min.) and keeper Batoul Reda (270 min.) are fixtures of the Flyers' defense. Reda ranks fourth in the A-10 with 14 saves on the season.

SCOUTING MERCYHURST
Mercyhurst (0-3), in its first year of DI competition, is working through a seven-match road stint to open the 2024 season. The Lakers dropped a 5-0 decision at Syracuse on Sunday as 27 different players saw action against the Orange. Freshmen Rosie Bandura and Annaliese Black lead the squad with one goal each through three games and graduate student Chelsea Radicia paces the team with 17 saves in goal.

SERIES STUFF
First Meeting

LAST TIME OUT
Dayton played host to then-19th-ranked Xavier Sunday night at Baujan field, falling to the visiting Musketeers by a 3-0 margin. Five Flyers played all 90 minutes including junior goalkeeper Batoul Reda who has been in goal for all 270 minutes this season. As a team, Dayton doubled up Xavier in corner kicks, 6-3, and UD ranks second in the A-10 with 18 corners on the season.

RPI RANKINGS
In the NCAA's final Rating Percentage Index (RPI) for the 2023 season, Dayton ranked 67th according to NCAA.com. Mercyhurst was listed at third in the DII Atlantic Regional Rankings.

FLYER FACTS
• Eric Golz is in his eighth season as head coach of the Flyers in 2024. His record at Dayton is 74-46-16 (.603) and his career win-loss mark sits at 94-62-21 (.590) 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.
• Freshman Liv Grenda claimed the Atlantic 10's first Rookie of the Week honor on Aug. 19 after scoring her first collegiate goal in Dayton's 2-1 win at Loyola Maryland on opening day.
• 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., D), Ella Raimondi (Jr., D/MF), Batoul Reda (Jr., GK).

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