Nov. 5, 2010

Final Stats

Box Score in PDF Format

Photo Gallery

Kingston, R.I. - Just 39 seconds into the first overtime period, Dayton's Alexis Garcia knocked in a rebound from close range on an initial shot on goal by Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year Colleen Williams in leading the Flyers to a 1-0 victory over St. Bonaventure in the second semifinal of the 2010 Atlantic 10 Conference Women's Soccer Championship at the URI Soccer Complex.

Dayton (17-3) and St. Bonaventure (12-9) battled for an edge as the match remained scoreless for 90 minutes. Both teams had just one shot in the first half and five shots total.

The Flyers picked up the offensive pace in the second half, with three shots on-goal and several scoring opportunities, and were able to carry their momentum into overtime.

"We've played a whole bunch of overtime games in the last year, and we're pretty used to this situation," Dayton head coach Mike Tucker said. "It's a tough way to win or lose really, but it's a matter of who sticks with it and that was the perfect example of sticking to it."

Bonnies' keeper Nicole Markert tallied four saves in the contest.

Dayton's Jerica DeWolfe led all players with three shots on Friday, while St. Bonaventure's Tori Burchett paced the Bonnies with two shots.

With the win, Dayton advances to the Women's Soccer Championship final to face Charlotte on Sunday at 1 p.m. This marks the third straight year these two schools will play for the conference championship. Charlotte defeated Dayton 1-0 in 2008, while the Flyers got redemption a year ago defeating the 49ers 2-1. Sunday's match will be streamed live for free over the internet on www.atlantic10.com.

QUOTES
Dayton Head Coach Mike Tucker
"Tonight's game, what a great battle. I thought it was an outstanding semifinal match. [St. Bonaventure] played their hearts out; they probably owned the first half really. They were dangerous; we kind of sat back on our heels too much. We decided at half time we were just going to go on the attack, we did that. Never let our foot off the gas pedal there. The keeper made one great save; we thought we had the winner right there. We've played a whole bunch of overtime games in the last year, and we're pretty used to this situation. It's a tough way to win or lose really, but it's a matter of who sticks with it and that was the perfect example of sticking to it."

On Overtime:
"I think you have to put teams on their heels. We wanted to just keep going ahead, keep pushing forward, making sure we were playing forward with every ball and make them make defensive plays. I'm not sure if that first ball from colleen Williams was going in the net, but it was close enough the keeper had to give it a go...I think you always have to go attack and try to win that game. The longer it goes, crazy stuff happens."

On The Championship Final
"It's a championship. It's a chance to go to the NCAA. We know the winner is in for sure. We think we played our way in regardless, but we haven't played Charlotte this year. They're always good; it's always a great match. We know it's going to be a great one, I don't think we need much more motivation than playing them, playing for a final, playing for the NCAA Tournament."

St. Bonaventure Head Coach Manoj Khettry
On The Game:
"I thought tonight's game was a good game. I think especially for having played last night in a torrential downpour and really expending a lot of energy, I was really proud of my kids. The shot count was 5-5, both teams had chances and unfortunately they got a fortuitous bounce and scored. But it was a great tournament; it was the third time this group has been here, the first time they've won a game. Our seniors have been to the A-10 tournament three times in a row, they've accomplished an amazing amount of feats in their careers. They've beaten every single A-10 team once over their four year career and I really felt like this game could have gone either way."