DAYTON – The University of Dayton women's soccer team looks to complete a perfect Atlantic 10 season with a road match at Rhode Island on Sunday, Oct. 26 at 1 p.m. at the URI Soccer Complex.
 
ABOUT DAYTON
The Flyers (12-3-2; 9-0-0) clinched the Atlantic 10 regular season title and are looking to go undefeated in A-10 play, which they've only done three other times in program history. Sophomores Liv Grenda and Laney Smith lead the team in total points (14 - 5 goals, 4 assists) on the season. Keeper Batoul Reda has an NCAA-leading 12 shutouts on the season and has 39 for her career.
 
SCOUTING RHODE ISLAND
Rhode Island (11-4-2; 5-2-2) are coming off a solid road draw with Loyola Chicago Thursday night. Lauren MacDonald (7 goals, 5 assists) and McKenna Slyvester (8 goals, 3 assists), lead the team in points (19). The Rams have relied on Dani Eden in net for the season, posting 10 shutouts and allowing just 11 total goals while amassing 57 saves.
 
SERIES STUFF
Dayton owns a decisive advantage over Rhode Island in the 28-year history of the matchup, winning 20 times in 24 games. The Flyers and Rams played a gritty 1-0 game last season at Baujan Field, with UD coming out on top thanks to a converted penalty kick by Kyra Karfonta. Keeper Batoul Reda made six saves in the contest for seventh shutout.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• After a scoreless first half, the Flyers got on the board first when senior Molly Russell found the back of the net off a beautiful setup from sophomore Laney Smith and senior Karli Ferguson in the 51st minute.
• Just two minutes later UD struck again, as senior Ella Raimondi headed home a corner kick from fellow senior Kyra Karfonta to push the Flyers' advantage to 2-0.
• GMU struck for a goal of its own in the 67th minute to make it 2-1, but Dayton controlled play for the final 25 minutes to secure the victory. UD dominated in total shots (18-2) and shots on goal (8-1), and also posted five corners to none for GMU.
 
ATLANTIC 10 REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS
• Dayton's victory on Thursday night gave the Flyers their first Atlantic 10 Regular Season Championship since the 2013 season.
• The win also secures the top seed for the Atlantic 10 Championship, giving UD homefield advantage throughout the tournament.
• The Flyers have won more A-10 Championships than any other program since joining the league in 1995, having 12 regular season titles and 10 conference tournament titles.
 
SOPHOMORE SURGE
• By picking up her fourth assist of the season on the Flyers first goal Thursday night, sophomore Laney Smith has moved into a tie for the team lead in total points with fellow sophomore Liv Grenda.
• The dynamic duo have both scored five goals and picked up four assists for 14 points this season.
• Smith is closing in on the numbers from her fantastic freshman campaign of nine goals and an assist for 19 points.
 
RUSSELL IS ROLLING
• Senior Molly Russell has played a pivotol role for the Flyers all season long in the midfield, but has just recently found touch in the scoring column.
• The Henderson, Nev. native has scored goals in back-to-back matches.
• Russell has tallied points in four of the last five matches, also registering an assist in victories at VCU and against Saint Joseph's.
 
FLYER GOAL, CORNER POCKET
• Dayton scored the ultimate game-winner on Thursday night thanks to a header from senior Ella Raimondi on a set piece from the corner.
• Fellow senior Kyra Karfonta served up the corner kick for the assist, marking the second time this season the two have connected on a corner piece.
 
REDA ROCKS
• Senior Batoul Reda continues to impress in her final season as a Flyers, registering her 12th shutout of the season in Sunday's 6-0 win over St. Bonaventure.
• Her 12 shutouts is one off the single-season program record of 13, set by Katherine Boone in 2009.
• Reda now has 39 career shutouts, giving her the most shutouts among active players in all of NCAA Division I women's soccer.
 
UP NEXT
The Flyers will host the Atlantic 10 Quarterfinals against an opponent yet to be determined on Friday, Oct. 31.