DAYTON – The University of Dayton women's soccer team opens Atlantic 10 Conference action this weekend, traveling to the City of Brotherly Love to take on La Salle at McCarthy Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 1 p.m.
 
ABOUT DAYTON
Dayton (3-3-2) hopes to keep its momentum going into Atlantic 10 play, opening conference action at La Salle after wrapping up the non-conference with a 3-0 victory over Akron. Sophomore Laney Smith leads the Flyers with four points (2 goals), while Olivia Baca, Lauryn Contini and Liv Grenda each have three. Senior keeper Batoul Reda turned in her fifth shutout of the season in the final non-conference showdown.
 
SCOUTING LA SALLE
The Explorers (3-3-1) finished the non-conference on a 2-0-1 streak, defeating Drexel (3-0) and Howard (2-1) to head into Atlantic 10 play. Justyce Hollenbach leads La Salle with five points (2 goals, 1 assist), while Anna Corsanico, Jillian Drumm, and Elizabeth Estrada each have four points. Mackenna Yarace has started in goal all seven games, allowing 1.29 goals per game and turning in one shutout.
 
SERIES STUFF
Dayton holds the all-time edge over La Salle, but the Explorers have held the advantage over the last 10 meetings, posting a 6-3-1 mark. Playing in Philadelphia has been a struggle for the Flyers for years, having not defeated La Salle on the road since 2009. UD has outscored the Explorers 5-1 in their last three meetings.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• Dayton finished the non-conference portion of the schedule on a high note, topping Akron 3-0 at Baujan Field on Friday night.
• The Flyers broke the scoring open with a pair of goals late in the first half, as sophomore Lauryn Contini netted her first goal as a Flyer in the 41st minute, and senior Ella Raimondi knocked in a rebound just two minutes later.
• UD put the finishing touches on the scoring in the 83rd minute, as sophomore Laney Smith scored her second goal of the season.
• Dayton's defense stifled Akron's offense, limiting the Zips to just six shots in the game and not allowing a single shot on goal. It was the fifth shutout of the season for keeper Batoul Reda and the Flyers' defense.
 
BACK ON TRACK
• Dayton's offense got back on track in its 3-0 victory over Akron on Friday, scoring as many goals against the Zips as they had in the previous seven matches.
• Sophomore Laney Smith took the team lead in goals for the season when she scored her second of the campaign in the 83rd minute off a fantastic feed from senior Karli Ferguson.
• Dayton's two-goal flurry to end the first half was started by an unassisted blast from sophomore transfer Lauryn Contini. Less than two minutes later, senior Ella Raimondi knocked in a rebound from redshirt sophomore Olivia Baca.
 
DEFENSE DOMINATES IN NON-CONFERENCE
• Dayton has five shutouts at the conclusion of the 2025 non-conference schedule, tied for its most in the Eric Golz era with the 2022 campaign.
• In 2022, the Flyers shutout Wright State (2-0), Northern Kentucky (3-0), Kent State (1-0), Bellarmine (1-0), and Akron (2-0).
 
KICKING OFF A-10 PLAY
• The Flyers begin Atlantic 10 action next week at La Salle and look to continue their recent run of success in conference play.
• UD has won 22 matches in A-10 play and posted a win percentage of .817 over the last three seasons.
• Dayton scored 18 goals and totaled 52 points in 10 conference games last season, while the defense allowed just six goals and posted six shutouts.
• Laney Smith led the team with five goals and an assist, while Kyra Karfonta had three goals and three assists, and Liv Grenda added two goals and a helper.
• The Flyers attempted 14.6 shots per game and scored 1.8 goals per contest.
 
UP NEXT
• The Flyers welcome Loyola Chicago to Baujan Field for the A-10 home opener on Thursday, Sept. 25 for a 7 p.m.