2022 UD Women's Soccer Season Preview: Devils are in Details
The UD Womens Soccer team launches Flyer fall sports on Thursday evening as they entertain the Toledo Rockets in the 2022 season opener at historic Baujan Field. Finishing 12-6-2 (8-2) last year, Dayton wound up 2nd in the A10 standings to arch-nemesis Saint Louis. UD would go on to lose 4-2 to the Billikins in the 2021 A10 Tournament Semis a tourney the Flyers hosted.
IT IS WHAT IT IS
The season marked an overall uptick in consistency of performance; it was the first season since 2012 with at least twice as many wins as losses. It was also the ninth consecutive loss to SLU however, an opponent the Flyers have not beaten since 2016. That must end because the next step in Head Coach Eric Golz program rebuild is to swap out sloppy Seconds in the A10 for outright conference titles. The only team that continues to stand in their way is SLU and the Bills have made a habit of reminding UD that a gap is still there. Saint Louis was once again picked to win it all in the 2022 A10 Preseason Poll (earning all but one first place vote) while Dayton was picked second. Weve been down this path before and somethings gotta change.
To do just that, the Flyers must improve in all areas of the field. In UDs losses, the bugaboos were often spread out generously and those small but compounding mistakes often flipped wins into losses. Dayton cannot afford to self-harm with more inexplicable own-goals, giveaways, and missed opportunities on set pieces and goal-box chances. Corner kicks must cease being ornamental. One less defensive miscue or one additional composed finish in front of the net can and will make a difference. No doubt UD continues to improve, but the competition is not sitting idle. The gains in cleanliness and execution need to shine from play to play let alone game to game.
THE ROLLS-ROYCERS
Junior forward Itala Gemelli (12g, 4a) the 2021 A10 Offensive Player of the Year gives UD a fighting chance in the offense to put goals on the scoreboard against the better teams on the schedule. Gemelli doesnt necessarily grade superior in any one facet of her game speed, strength, foot skills, or aerial attack. Its her cumulative competence of being good enough in most phases that makes her a difficult player to stop. Perhaps her best talent is knowing where to be and when to be there; its often said the ball just seems to find a goal scorers foot at the right place and time to take advantage of opportunities. Thats not luck however. Unlike a lot of goal scorers, Gemelli also understands that all goals count the same and is not pre-occupied with style points. Shes a 2022 A10 First Team preseason pick for good reason.
Assisting Gemelli in the offense is senior Jessica Sheldon (4g, 7a), a 2021 First Team A10 selection who terrorizes defenders along the left touch line with her overtaking runs, dribble-drives, and habitually dangerous crosses in the box. One could easily make a case that its Sheldon whos the best player at her position on the Flyer roster, yet she was left of the 2022 All-A10 Preseason Team which just underscores how little attention is being paid anymore to the actual work getting done on the pitch. Sheldon is the key to UDs offense because shes the lone player with enough speed to out-leg the A10s best defenders in a foot race. You cant coach pace and it's her job to weaponize it every chance she gets.
OTHER HELP IN THE OFFENSE
Fellow senior F Laney Huber (8g, 2a) stepped up last season and will need to improve upon her stats if Dayton plans to unseat Saint Louis for top dog in the A10. Crafty and capable of solid strikes on frame, opponents must account for her and not give her small windows of opportunity. If she can become a two-headed scoring monster with Gemelli, UD is in business.
Seniors Marlee Taylor (6g, 3a) and Alicia Donley (5g) give the Flyers some additional scoring punch at midfield and forward. Perhaps the X Factor to everything however is junior MF Diana Benigno (2g, 5a), a former HS-All American from Beavercreek who at times shows flashes of brilliance in the midfield. The same can be said for senior MF Yaiza Navarro Leon. The pair are considerably undersized as ball-winning central players, but that hasnt stopped Dayton from finding midfield all-stars over the year that fit that same description. The tandem possesses quality foot skills and IQ to get work done, but must turn into maniacal ball-winners and figure out a way to hold possession without being pick-pocketed by a bigger, stronger player throwing a shoulder into a challenge. In UDs losses, dis-possession between the goal boxes was often pronounced. Dayton MUST play more physical in the central third to have a snowballs chance of unseating the Billikins for top honors in the A10 standings.
Other names to keep an eye on are junior MF Madison Wilson (3a), senior F Alexis Goins (2a), junior MF Mia Perri, and sophomore F Noel Blain (2g, 3a).
DEFENSE
Defensively, the Flyers bring back an experienced group led by 2021 A10 First Teamer Mackenzie Lutz. Lutz has the trust of the coaching staff and played the most minutes of any player last season. Shell team up with junior D Natalie Hegg who nearly matched Lutz in minutes played. Senior Audrey Steiert was gimped up almost all season and played sparingly, but if healthy gives the Flyers yet another defender with career-starting experience. Marquette transfer Addie Shock pitched in defensively in 2021 and is another option for the coaching staff; the senior from Dublin, OH, brings good size (5-10) to the back line to help defend crosses and set pieces. Another option with less experience is junior Elle Lovdal.
EXPERIENCE IS NOT ENOUGH
The Flyers have fielded an experienced group in the back line for the past 2-3 seasons. Most of the players have trained together, taken the field together, and played together for most of their careers. It hasnt translated into the classic, impenetrable Ministry of Defense that Flyer fans became so accustomed to over the prior 20 years however. For a program that hung its hat on clean sheets, UD continues to invent new ways to surrender cheap, un-earned, self-destructive goals that have plagued attempts to climb to the top of the A10 standings. In the most important matches and against the toughest opponents, Dayton has not been able to pitch shutouts or at the very least -- give their offense a chance to win a big game 1-0 or 2-1. In 2022, the defense is simply too experienced to keep re-living this outcome and its time for the back line to start bragging about shutouts rather than woulda-coulda-shouldas.
NO CHERRYPICKING
In their defense however, collective defense must also improve and that includes mids and forwards tracking back to re-possess after being dis-possessed and not leave it to three back-line players to save their bacon. Senior GK Madelyn Dewey (1.21gaa) would like that very much because her goals-against average is a direct reflection on the questionable defending thats been in front of her for the past couple of seasons. A team looking to win a conference championship and punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament better have a GAA under 1.00 at minimum. Theres a lot of work to be done here.
NEWBIES
The Flyers bring in seven freshmen including three alone from the Michigan Jaguars FC. Postseason programs add 2-3 newcomers with starter ability every year so it remains to be seen if the Flyer coaching staff has those inbound impact players ready to contribute right away. The biggest areas of recruiting concern are speed and strength. If one or more can being those intangibles, they will see the field.
SCHEDULE
The non-conference schedule positions the Flyers for their eventual A10 season starting in mid-September. Aside from opening night against Toledo, UD hosts crosstown rival Wright State on 8/19 in another matchup the Flyers need to reassert domination in. The remaining non-con schedule includes: @NKU on 8/25, Kent State on 8/28, Ohio State on 9/1, @Bellarmine on 9/4, @Butler on 9/8, and Akron on 9/11.
The only part of the A10 schedule requiring a mention is when and where the SLU match is played. Dayton hosts the Billikins on Sunday October 16th. Of course, the Flyers must take care of business against the other A10 opponents, but weve reached a point in the program where that must once again be the minimum expectation just as it was for the better part of two decades. The training wheels have been tossed aside and this is now Coach Golz team with all his own players and enough time to coach them up.
POINTING OUT THE OBVIOUS
When the smoke clears, whats it all mean? It means precisely what we said at the beginning: the difference between the hunter and the hunted is oftentimes one positions in the standings. It might seem like UD is knocking on the door, but the gap between #1 and #2 in the A10 is probably as much as #2 and #5. If it seems like were focusing most of our attention on the Billikins its because to be the best you must beat the best and they remain the best program in the A10 as of this writing.
Things can change and Dayton can be the team to change it, but it wont happen simply by wishing for it. Saint Louis is not slowing down and that means Dayton must speed up to eliminate the gap entirely. Is it possible in 2022? Certainly. But we still think the A10 race is a race for 2nd place. The empirical evidence says so, and the five preseason A10 All Conference players from SLU reaffirm it thats five of 11 players. The respect from pollsters and fans must be earned the old-fashioned way: pointing to the scoreboard to make your case. Dayton is good, but they need to do more if they want to be great again.
Predicted A10 Finish: 2nd
A10 Tournament: A10 Semifinals
Postseason: None
IT IS WHAT IT IS
The season marked an overall uptick in consistency of performance; it was the first season since 2012 with at least twice as many wins as losses. It was also the ninth consecutive loss to SLU however, an opponent the Flyers have not beaten since 2016. That must end because the next step in Head Coach Eric Golz program rebuild is to swap out sloppy Seconds in the A10 for outright conference titles. The only team that continues to stand in their way is SLU and the Bills have made a habit of reminding UD that a gap is still there. Saint Louis was once again picked to win it all in the 2022 A10 Preseason Poll (earning all but one first place vote) while Dayton was picked second. Weve been down this path before and somethings gotta change.
To do just that, the Flyers must improve in all areas of the field. In UDs losses, the bugaboos were often spread out generously and those small but compounding mistakes often flipped wins into losses. Dayton cannot afford to self-harm with more inexplicable own-goals, giveaways, and missed opportunities on set pieces and goal-box chances. Corner kicks must cease being ornamental. One less defensive miscue or one additional composed finish in front of the net can and will make a difference. No doubt UD continues to improve, but the competition is not sitting idle. The gains in cleanliness and execution need to shine from play to play let alone game to game.
THE ROLLS-ROYCERS
Junior forward Itala Gemelli (12g, 4a) the 2021 A10 Offensive Player of the Year gives UD a fighting chance in the offense to put goals on the scoreboard against the better teams on the schedule. Gemelli doesnt necessarily grade superior in any one facet of her game speed, strength, foot skills, or aerial attack. Its her cumulative competence of being good enough in most phases that makes her a difficult player to stop. Perhaps her best talent is knowing where to be and when to be there; its often said the ball just seems to find a goal scorers foot at the right place and time to take advantage of opportunities. Thats not luck however. Unlike a lot of goal scorers, Gemelli also understands that all goals count the same and is not pre-occupied with style points. Shes a 2022 A10 First Team preseason pick for good reason.
Assisting Gemelli in the offense is senior Jessica Sheldon (4g, 7a), a 2021 First Team A10 selection who terrorizes defenders along the left touch line with her overtaking runs, dribble-drives, and habitually dangerous crosses in the box. One could easily make a case that its Sheldon whos the best player at her position on the Flyer roster, yet she was left of the 2022 All-A10 Preseason Team which just underscores how little attention is being paid anymore to the actual work getting done on the pitch. Sheldon is the key to UDs offense because shes the lone player with enough speed to out-leg the A10s best defenders in a foot race. You cant coach pace and it's her job to weaponize it every chance she gets.
OTHER HELP IN THE OFFENSE
Fellow senior F Laney Huber (8g, 2a) stepped up last season and will need to improve upon her stats if Dayton plans to unseat Saint Louis for top dog in the A10. Crafty and capable of solid strikes on frame, opponents must account for her and not give her small windows of opportunity. If she can become a two-headed scoring monster with Gemelli, UD is in business.
Seniors Marlee Taylor (6g, 3a) and Alicia Donley (5g) give the Flyers some additional scoring punch at midfield and forward. Perhaps the X Factor to everything however is junior MF Diana Benigno (2g, 5a), a former HS-All American from Beavercreek who at times shows flashes of brilliance in the midfield. The same can be said for senior MF Yaiza Navarro Leon. The pair are considerably undersized as ball-winning central players, but that hasnt stopped Dayton from finding midfield all-stars over the year that fit that same description. The tandem possesses quality foot skills and IQ to get work done, but must turn into maniacal ball-winners and figure out a way to hold possession without being pick-pocketed by a bigger, stronger player throwing a shoulder into a challenge. In UDs losses, dis-possession between the goal boxes was often pronounced. Dayton MUST play more physical in the central third to have a snowballs chance of unseating the Billikins for top honors in the A10 standings.
Other names to keep an eye on are junior MF Madison Wilson (3a), senior F Alexis Goins (2a), junior MF Mia Perri, and sophomore F Noel Blain (2g, 3a).
DEFENSE
Defensively, the Flyers bring back an experienced group led by 2021 A10 First Teamer Mackenzie Lutz. Lutz has the trust of the coaching staff and played the most minutes of any player last season. Shell team up with junior D Natalie Hegg who nearly matched Lutz in minutes played. Senior Audrey Steiert was gimped up almost all season and played sparingly, but if healthy gives the Flyers yet another defender with career-starting experience. Marquette transfer Addie Shock pitched in defensively in 2021 and is another option for the coaching staff; the senior from Dublin, OH, brings good size (5-10) to the back line to help defend crosses and set pieces. Another option with less experience is junior Elle Lovdal.
EXPERIENCE IS NOT ENOUGH
The Flyers have fielded an experienced group in the back line for the past 2-3 seasons. Most of the players have trained together, taken the field together, and played together for most of their careers. It hasnt translated into the classic, impenetrable Ministry of Defense that Flyer fans became so accustomed to over the prior 20 years however. For a program that hung its hat on clean sheets, UD continues to invent new ways to surrender cheap, un-earned, self-destructive goals that have plagued attempts to climb to the top of the A10 standings. In the most important matches and against the toughest opponents, Dayton has not been able to pitch shutouts or at the very least -- give their offense a chance to win a big game 1-0 or 2-1. In 2022, the defense is simply too experienced to keep re-living this outcome and its time for the back line to start bragging about shutouts rather than woulda-coulda-shouldas.
NO CHERRYPICKING
In their defense however, collective defense must also improve and that includes mids and forwards tracking back to re-possess after being dis-possessed and not leave it to three back-line players to save their bacon. Senior GK Madelyn Dewey (1.21gaa) would like that very much because her goals-against average is a direct reflection on the questionable defending thats been in front of her for the past couple of seasons. A team looking to win a conference championship and punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament better have a GAA under 1.00 at minimum. Theres a lot of work to be done here.
NEWBIES
The Flyers bring in seven freshmen including three alone from the Michigan Jaguars FC. Postseason programs add 2-3 newcomers with starter ability every year so it remains to be seen if the Flyer coaching staff has those inbound impact players ready to contribute right away. The biggest areas of recruiting concern are speed and strength. If one or more can being those intangibles, they will see the field.
SCHEDULE
The non-conference schedule positions the Flyers for their eventual A10 season starting in mid-September. Aside from opening night against Toledo, UD hosts crosstown rival Wright State on 8/19 in another matchup the Flyers need to reassert domination in. The remaining non-con schedule includes: @NKU on 8/25, Kent State on 8/28, Ohio State on 9/1, @Bellarmine on 9/4, @Butler on 9/8, and Akron on 9/11.
The only part of the A10 schedule requiring a mention is when and where the SLU match is played. Dayton hosts the Billikins on Sunday October 16th. Of course, the Flyers must take care of business against the other A10 opponents, but weve reached a point in the program where that must once again be the minimum expectation just as it was for the better part of two decades. The training wheels have been tossed aside and this is now Coach Golz team with all his own players and enough time to coach them up.
POINTING OUT THE OBVIOUS
When the smoke clears, whats it all mean? It means precisely what we said at the beginning: the difference between the hunter and the hunted is oftentimes one positions in the standings. It might seem like UD is knocking on the door, but the gap between #1 and #2 in the A10 is probably as much as #2 and #5. If it seems like were focusing most of our attention on the Billikins its because to be the best you must beat the best and they remain the best program in the A10 as of this writing.
Things can change and Dayton can be the team to change it, but it wont happen simply by wishing for it. Saint Louis is not slowing down and that means Dayton must speed up to eliminate the gap entirely. Is it possible in 2022? Certainly. But we still think the A10 race is a race for 2nd place. The empirical evidence says so, and the five preseason A10 All Conference players from SLU reaffirm it thats five of 11 players. The respect from pollsters and fans must be earned the old-fashioned way: pointing to the scoreboard to make your case. Dayton is good, but they need to do more if they want to be great again.
Predicted A10 Finish: 2nd
A10 Tournament: A10 Semifinals
Postseason: None