WASHINGTON, D.C. - Dayton (5-2-7) secured a crucial road victory over George Washington (2-11-3) with a 1-0 win on Saturday afternoon at the GW Soccer Field. Andrew Armstrong netted the decisive goal in the 54th minute to extend the Flyers' unbeaten streak to two matches.
The match's lone goal came when Armstrong found space in the penalty area and slotted home a well-placed shot in the 54th minute. The strike proved to be enough for Dayton to claim all three points in a tightly contested Atlantic 10 battle.
The first half saw both teams create opportunities but struggle to find the breakthrough. Kristjan Frostason tested the George Washington defense with a blocked shot in the 5th minute, while Paul Yeboah forced a save with a low drive in the 6th minute. The Colonials responded through Colin Prendergast, whose attempt in the 14th minute sailed high. Jake Poole received a yellow card in the 20th minute for an unsporting challenge, reflecting the match's competitive nature.
After the break, the match opened up considerably. Dayton's pressure finally paid off when Armstrong broke the deadlock. George Washington pushed for an equalizer, with Jaden Dubon creating several chances, including a blocked shot in the 71st minute. The Colonials' best opportunity came through Louis Saville, who saw two attempts blocked in quick succession in the 74th minute.
The statistics highlighted Dayton's attacking dominance, as they outshot George Washington 21-14, putting eight attempts on target compared to the Colonials' three. The Flyers also held a commanding 10-1 advantage in corner kicks. Both teams showed discipline despite the intensity, with Dayton receiving one yellow card and George Washington collecting two.
Several players stood out individually throughout the match. Mikkel Madsen controlled the midfield for Dayton, while Felix Buabeng created multiple scoring opportunities, including a blocked shot in the 12th minute. For George Washington, Alex Nicholson demonstrated his defensive prowess, making several crucial interventions to keep his team in the match.
Tactically, Dayton's approach focused on building pressure through sustained possession and utilizing their advantage in set pieces, as evidenced by their ten corner kicks. George Washington adopted a more counter-attacking style, looking to exploit spaces when the Flyers committed forward. The introduction of fresh legs through substitutions, including Cooper Lijewski for Dayton and Louis Saville for George Washington, helped maintain the match's high intensity.
The victory strengthens Dayton's position in the Atlantic 10 standings as they continue their solid form, having lost just twice in their last fourteen matches. For George Washington, despite a spirited defensive effort, the result extends their challenging season as they search for their first conference win.
Looking ahead, Dayton will aim to build on this momentum when they host Loyola Chicago on November 1st at 7:00 PM. George Washington looks to rebound as they travel to face La Salle on November 1st at 6:00 PM in another crucial conference matchup.