DAYTON, Ohio - The University of Dayton secured a convincing 4-2 victory over Davidson in Atlantic 10 conference play on Saturday afternoon at Baujan Field. The Flyers (3-1-5) extended their unbeaten streak while Davidson (2-5-2) suffered their second consecutive loss.
Ethan Sassine opened the scoring for Dayton in the 30th minute with a well-placed header off a cross from Martin Bakken. Braden Seel doubled the lead from the penalty spot in the 48th minute after a foul on Andrew Armstrong. Aiden Boudro pulled one back for Davidson in the 64th minute with a header assisted by Nicholas Alvaro Zeballos, before Nico Quanbeck added Davidson's second in the 79th minute off a feed from Ben Minikel-Lacocque.
The first half saw Dayton establish control early, with Paul Yeboah and Felix Buabeng both testing Davidson goalkeeper Lucas Beltran. JP Ramos Mora had Davidson's best chance in the 3rd minute, but his shot sailed high. The Flyers dominated possession and created multiple opportunities, forcing four corner kicks before the break while limiting Davidson to just two shots on target.
The second half intensified after Seel's penalty conversion. Davidson showed renewed energy following their halftime adjustments, particularly after the introduction of Myles Culley and Jack Brown in the 61st minute. The visitors' tactical shift to a more aggressive formation paid dividends with Boudro's header, but Dayton's defensive organization, anchored by goalkeeper Gavin Krenecki's four saves, preserved their advantage.
Statistically, Dayton demonstrated their superiority, outshooting Davidson 10-9 with five shots on target compared to Davidson's six. The Flyers earned nine corner kicks to Davidson's four, while the physical nature of the match was evident in the card count - Davidson received one yellow card (Culley, 77th minute) while Dayton collected three (Buabeng 22nd, Madsen 83rd, Bonham 87th minute).
Individual performances highlighted the match's competitive nature. Krenecki's goalkeeping proved crucial for Dayton with four saves, while Beltran made one save before being replaced by Carson Pridie in the 74th minute. Martin Bakken's creative presence in midfield generated multiple attacking opportunities, including his assist on Sassine's opener.
Tactically, Dayton's high-pressing system disrupted Davidson's build-up play, forcing turnovers in dangerous areas. Davidson's switch to three at the back in the second half created more attacking opportunities but left them vulnerable to Dayton's quick transitions. The introduction of Alexander Dorko for Kingsford Acheampong in the 81st minute helped Dayton maintain possession during the crucial final minutes.
The victory strengthens Dayton's position in conference play, extending their unbeaten run to two matches following their draw against VCU. For Davidson, the loss continues a challenging stretch that includes their recent 3-1 defeat at UNC Greensboro, though their second-half performance showed promising signs for improvement.
Looking ahead, Dayton travels to Saint Louis for their next conference match on October 4, while Davidson returns home to host Saint Joseph's on the same day. The contrasting fortunes of both teams were evident throughout this match, with Dayton's clinical finishing and tactical discipline ultimately proving decisive in securing all three points.