Nov. 13, 2009

KINGSTON, R.I. Top-seeded Dayton advanced to the 2009 Atlantic 10 Championship game, defeating No. 6 St. Bonaventure, 3-1, in the first semifinal game of the 2009 Atlantic 10 Men's Soccer Championship held at the URI Soccer Complex on the campus of the University of Rhode Island. The Flyers will face second-seeded Saint Louis, which topped host Rhode Island, 3-2, to earn a spot in the Championship game.

The title game will be played at 1:00pm on Sunday, Nov. 15, at the URI Soccer Complex.

#1 Dayton 3, #6 St. Bonaventure 1

Boxscore
Dayton Postgame Video
St. Bonaventure Postgame Video

Top-seeded Dayton advanced to the 2009 Atlantic 10 Championship game, defeating No. 6 St. Bonaventure, 3-1, on Friday evening.

The Flyers will take on the winner of No. 2 and No. 4 Rhode Island on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. The three-day tournament is being held at the URI Soccer Complex, on the campus of the University of Rhode Island.

UD's Issac Kissi began the scoring in the match in the 41st minute, toeing a loose ball in the goal mouth past the Bonnies' David Flynn. It was Kissi's ninth goal of the season. The Flyers owned a 1-0 edge at the break.

In the second half, SBU's David DiNardo registered his first goal of the season on a beautifully orchestrated pass from Chris Leko. DiNardo took the quick pass and put it on the left post at the 74:22 mark.

But Dayton would respond with the game-winner in the 82nd minute. Jack Pearson converted a header off a corner kick from Zach Weiss. For Pearson, it was his third score of the year. Dayton held a 9-0 edge in corner kick attempts for the match.

Jeff Popella added an unassisted goal just 1:20 later, maneuvering past his defenders, beating Flynn one-on-one on the left.

"I thought we came out and we were a bit nervous," said Dayton head coach Dennis Currier. "The game opened up a bit in the second half. St. Bonaventure did a great job and I thought we responded very well and put two late goals in the back of the net."

For the match, Flynn made seven saves while his counterpart - Tyler Picard of Dayton - stopped six shots. Dayton outshot the Bonnies, 18-8 - including a 10-7 edge in shots on-goal.

Dayton improves to 14-4-1 overall, while St. Bonaventure finishes the 2009 campaign with a 10-9 mark.

"I am really proud of our team. We played a great match and Dayton is a great team," said SBU head coach Mel Mahler. "It was a great season for us. We're proud of efforts."

#2 Saint Louis 3, #4 Rhode Island 2

Boxscore
Saint Louis Postgame Video
Rhode Island Postgame Video

Tim Ream scored the gamewinner in the 87th minute, propelling #2 Saint Louis into finals of the 2009 Atlantic 10 Championship, 3-2, over #4 Rhode Island on Friday night.

The Billikens will take on top-seeded Dayton on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. The conference championship tournament is being held at the URI Soccer Complex, on the campus of the University of Rhode Island.

SLU's Stephen Bortolon began the scoring on the night early on, taking a pass from teammate Mike Roach on the right side and finding the left corner at the 9:56 mark. For Bortolon it was his third tally of the year.

Rhody's Dominic Petrarca tied the game at 1-1 in the 32nd minute, set up by a long crossing pass by Andres Ruiz, which was flicked into the box by Erkko Puranen. It was Petrarca's first tally of the season.

In the second half, SLU's Roach tallied an unassisted goal in the 65th minute, putting a straight-on shot past URI goalkeeper Chris Pennock. Rhode Island would again tie the score, as Puranen beat SLU keeper Ross Kaufman in the 65th minute, on a play set up by Gary Crooks.

Ream scored the deciding goal off a free kick from 30 yards out.

For the match, Kaufman made six saves while Pennock stopped two shots. SLU outshot URI, 14-10 - but the Rams held an 8-6 edge in shots on-goal.

Saint Louis improved to 13-6 overall, while Rhode Island finished the 2009 campaign with a 9-9-2 mark.